The Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

General conditions

Advice to disabled people concerning security checks

This advice is given to help disabled people pass the security check process. It is not completely comprehensive and is just aimed at giving recommendations and advice to passengers. It is regularly updated to incorporate the changes introduced in the security check process at checkpoints.

To find additional information, passengers can also visit: http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer

General conditions
• Remember that you can always request and have a check performed in private.
• Please ensure that drugs are labelled correctly (a label written by a specialist and identifying the drug or the manufacturer’s name, or a pharmaceutical label).
• You are advised to notify in advance the airline you are about to fly with if you have special needs or if you need assistance at the airport.
• You are advised to notify in advance the airline you are about to fly with if you need to be accompanied/assisted by a representative of the airline to your gate.
• You are advised to check with your airline the procedure to obtain a pass/permit for the person accompanying/assisting you, so that he/she can accompany you through the security checkpoint to your gate.
• The restriction according to which passengers are allowed to carry only one piece of hand luggage or personal possession (e.g. a handbag or a briefcase) does not apply to drugs, equipment, mobility aids or assistance devices for disabled passengers.
• Mobility aids and assistance devices allowed through security checkpoints include: walking sticks, crutches, walkers, prostheses, orthopaedic apparatuses, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, height-increasing devices, Braille writing devices, writing tablets and pens, assistance animals, and equipment/materials for diabetics, as indicated below.
Physically disabled people
• When you pass through the security checkpoint, do not hesitate to ask the officer performing the check to assist you with your mobility aids or the objects you are carrying.
• You will help make the check faster if you inform the officer performing the check of the degree of your disability (e.g. whether you are able to walk, stand or raise your arms).
• Inform the officers performing the check of the special equipment or devices you are using, and where exactly on your body they are located. This will help the officer performing the check to be careful with that equipment in case a physical search is required.
• Let the officers performing the check know if you cannot take your shoes off when an additional check is required.
• If you are able to take your shoes off, ask the officers performing the check for assistance, if needed.
• To help make the process faster, ensure that all bags and possessions hung or placed underneath or upon the equipment are placed on the conveyor belt of the X-ray inspection machine.
• Ask the officer performing the check to help you collect the possessions you are carrying and your aids after the X-ray check is complete.

People with impaired hearing or visually impaired people

• If the checking process is not clear to you, ask the officer performing the check to write the information for you or to look straight at you and repeat the information slowly.
Visually impaired people

Ask the officer performing the check:
•    To explain the security procedures.
•    To describe what the next step is.
•    To tell you where the metal detector is.
•    To tell you when you are about to pass through the metal detector.
•    To tell you in case there are any obstacles you need to avoid.
•    Inform the officer performing the check in case you need someone to accompany you during the check process.
•    Inform the officer performing the check if the X-ray check could damage the equipment you may be using (e.g. Braille writing devices). Ask that the equipment be checked visually and physically rather than through X-rays.
•    Ask the officer performing the check to help you collect the possessions you are carrying and your aids after the X-ray or physical check is complete.
•    Ask the officer performing the check to hand you your computer or other electronic devices which required an additional check.
•    Ask the officer performing the check to give you the directions to the gate after the checking process is complete.
Assistance animals and guide dogs
•    There are no documents requiring assistance animals to pass through the security checkpoint.
•    The assistant animal/guide dog and its accessories shall be checked physically (i.e. whether they pass through the metal detector together, or the animal walks in front of or behind the user, with the user uninterruptedly controlling the animal by holding its leash, harness/halter, etc.)
•    Advise the officer performing the check of the best way to check the assistant animal or guide dog.
•    That check includes: the animal and its accessories (collar, harness, strap, back straps, vest etc.)
•    Ask the officer performing the check not to remove the accessories from the animal at that point of the trip because this would be a sign for the animal that it is no longer at work.
•    Assistance animals and guide dogs should not be separated from their master.

Hidden disabilities
•    Passengers with hidden disabilities may, if they wish, inform the officers performing the check that they have a hidden disability and might need some help or have to walk more slowly than others.
•    Family members or accompanying people travelling with the passenger may also inform the officers performing the check that they are travelling together with someone with a hidden disability which might cause that person to move more slowly, become agitated easily and/or require extra attention.
•    Inform the officers performing the check that you have special equipment which cannot pass through the X-ray machine. Ask that the equipment be checked visually or physically rather than through X-rays.
•    Inform the officers performing the check that you wish to sit down before the check is complete.
•    Diabetics.
•    Inform the officer performing the check that you suffer from diabetes and are carrying the drugs and devices you need.
•    Ensure that the insulin (bottles or a box of ampoules), injectors, insulin pens, venous infusion devices and pre-filled syringes are properly marked (a professionally printed label identifying the drug, the manufacturer’s name, or a pharmaceutical label).
•    There are no restrictions on the number of empty syringes you may carry through the security checkpoint; yet you are required to carry insulin in order to pass the checkpoint with empty syringes.
•    Lancets, glucose meters, blood glucose test strips can be carried through the security checkpoint.
•    Inform the officers performing the check if you are wearing an insulin pump and ask them to inspect it visually since you cannot remove it from your body.
•    Insulin pumps and consumables shall be accompanied by insulin with professionally printed labels, as described above.
•    If possible, inform the officers performing the check when/if at the moment your blood sugar level is low and you need medical aid.
•    People with pacemakers.
•    People with pacemakers are advised to bring a pacemaker identification card (ID) when passing the airport security checks.
•    A pacemaker ID card is usually issued by your doctor or by the hospital where the pacemaker was implanted.
•    That ID card can help you pass the airport security checks.
•    Inform the officer performing the check that you have a pacemaker implanted, show him/her your pacemaker ID card, if you hold one, and ask him/her to search you physically by feeling and tapping along your body using their hands instead of making you pass through the X-ray machine or searching you using a hand-held detector.