Advocacy 101: Advocacy in Action at the Airport

As we celebrate Older Americans Month, we are reminded that aging with dignity is a collective effort that requires reflection on what it truly takes for older adults to participate fully in community life. With the spring and summer travel seasons upon us, many families are preparing to reconnect. Yet, the logistical hurdles of modern travel can often feel like a barrier to that independence.

This month, I’m taking a different approach to our ongoing Advocacy 101 series. I want to explore the idea that true advocacy does not only happen through policy battles; it happens in everyday spaces where we insist that systems work with us, rather than against us, as our needs change.

On a recent trip with my family and mother, who recently turned 90, I witnessed firsthand how challenging the standard airport security process can be when a system is designed for speed rather than accessibility.

We navigated the zig-zagging line as most do, taking small steps at a time, and waiting patiently until eventually (around one hour later), we finally made it to security screening. It was there that the agent told me that there was a program called TSA Cares that assists older adults, people with disabilities, medical conditions, and other circumstances to help ensure the screening process is smooth and seamless.

The experience was a poignant reminder that independence does not mean doing everything alone. This program serves as a powerful case study to share because it demonstrates what advocacy looks like when it is built directly into a public system: anticipating needs instead of merely reacting to problems. The program functions by connecting travelers with a Passenger Support Specialist, a specially trained officer whose primary role is to assist and advocate for the traveler throughout the screening process. This initiative puts advocacy into action by slowing down the procedural pace, explaining each step before it occurs, and assisting with medical devices such as walkers or wheelchairs. By ensuring that older adults are treated with patience and respect, the program affirms the truth that aging should never lead to invisibility or exclusion from public life.

From an advocacy perspective, requesting this type of assistance is a profound act of self-advocacy. It sends a clear message to large-scale institutions and processes that your time matters, and you deserve respect. Often, we feel we must navigate challenges silently, but advocacy reminds us that we have the right to use the supports that exist to maintain our autonomy. Utilizing these services is not a request for a favor; it is an assertion that public systems must serve people across the entire lifespan.

Furthermore, individual engagement with these systems creates a “ripple effect” that drives broader systemic change. Every time a traveler utilizes these specialized supports, the program becomes more visible, which in turn improves training, awareness, and accountability across the entire system. As advocates, sharing information about these resources is one way we turn simple awareness into concrete action that helps the next traveler, and the one after that.

As you coordinate your upcoming family travels, I encourage you to view these resources as vital tools in your advocacy toolkit. Older Americans Month is a time to celebrate longevity, but it is also a time to push for the respectful, inclusive systems we all deserve. When advocacy is woven into the fabric of our public systems, barriers fall and independence grows, allowing everyone to keep moving forward. Happy travels to you!

Joel Domingo is chair of the Advisory Council’s Advocacy Committee and Dean of the Research Institute and director of Research and professor at City University of Seattle, where he leads the university’s overall scholarship and research objectives. His work focuses on leadership development and civic capacity building for creating social transformation in the public and community nonprofit spheres.