Services Provided for Travelers with Disabilities
Accessibility Guide
In an effort to develop awareness in the airport environment, as well as convenient and safer travel for customers with disabilities, the Chicago Department of Aviation has created the Disability Awareness & Assistance Program. Click here to download the Disability Awareness and Assistance Program brochure.
The Accessibility Guide provides a map highlighting facilities for travelers with disabilities. These facilities are also described below.
Wheelchair Assistance
All outside sidewalks at O'Hare have sloping curb cuts for easy wheelchair access. Throughout the airport, restrooms, elevators, signage, telephones, restaurants, drinking fountains, and diaper changing facilities are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wheelchair assistance is available from your airline. Please contact your airline in advance to make arrangements.
Airport Transit System (ATS)
All points on the ATS route system, which provides transport between terminals, to the Kiss 'N Fly dropoff point, and to the remote parking lot, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Elevators are available at each of the five stops.
Animal Relief Area
Animal relief areas are located curbside, on the lower levels of Terminals 1 and 5. These are gated areas designated for service animal relief and are accessible at all times. All animals must be accompanied and leashed by the owner.
Elevators
Elevators located in Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 provide access to all passenger levels of the terminal complex. All elevator button panels are equipped with Braille and raised numerals.
Parking Facilities
The Main Parking Garage (Lot A), adjacent outdoor lots (Lots B and C), the parking lot serving the International Terminal (Lot D), and Economy Lots E and F have 250 accessible parking spaces. For further information call the Parking Information Hotline at (773) 686-7530.
Public Transportation/CTA Rapid Transit
The CTA Blue Line train provides service between downtown Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. The station is equipped with an elevator to take passengers with mobility impairments to and from the platform. Please contact the CTA directly for more detailed information on the Blue Line hours of service.
1-312-836-7000
1-312-836-4949 (TTY)
TransitChicago.com
Rental Cars
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National rental car agencies provide hand-controlled vehicles for persons with mobility impairments. Agencies request notification 2-3 days prior to needing to rent a car with adaptive equipment.
Restaurants
All restaurants located in the airport are accessible.
Restrooms
Restrooms located throughout the Airport have wheelchair accessible facilities. In addition, there are family and companion restroom facilities. See the Airport Map for locations.
Taxicabs
Wheelchair accessible taxicabs are one free phone call away. Call 1-800-281-4466 to be put in touch with every taxicab company that operates wheelchair accessible cabs.
Telephone and TTY Phones
Hook-ups for operator-assisted Teletypewriters (TTY) are located on the lower level of Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and on the upper level of Terminal 5. They are available 24 hours a day.
Travelers Aid
Travelers Aid Chicago is a social service agency located at O'Hare International Airport.
The main Travelers Aid office is located in Terminal 2, and is open seven days a week. Several booths are located throughout the terminals as well. Travelers Aid provides guidance, support or advocacy services for passengers. Professional staff are trained to provide crisis intervention information and social services to travelers and visitors at the airport. Travelers Aid Chicago can be reached at (773) 894-2427.
Accessible Kiosks with Video Phones
Travelers who are hearing or speech impaired or need to need communicate with family, friends, or colleges who are hearing or speech impaired are welcome to place a videophone call to request services at 8 kiosks located throughout the airport.
Each new kiosk is equipped with a Public Access Videophone (PAV), a multilingual touch screen monitor providing airport transportation and tourist information, and an overhead plasma monitor that features accessibility information about tourist attractions in the City of Chicago and streaming text announcements. The most extraordinary feature of the kiosks is the PAV, a device that is capable of providing video relay service for hearing impaired travelers. Video relay service is the functionally equivalent way for hearing impaired individuals to place phone calls. With the PAV technology, a caller using sign language can communicate with another person via an interpreter through a video connection.
Each kiosk is wheelchair accessible. The PAV comes equipped with a keyboard for users who prefer to use text-based relay services. Point-to-point video calls are also possible with the PAV, allowing users to communicate back and forth through sign language. There is no charge to callers using the videophone to access video relay service. Callers who wish to communicate via videophone with a family member or friend can charge the call to a credit card. The PAV phone and touch screen information displays are primarily geared for people with disabilities, however, any traveler can use the system to video conference or access email.
The kiosks are located in the upper and lower levels of the terminals and Bus/Shuttle Center at O'Hare International Airport.