Dina Frank: 7-Year-Old With Cerebral Palsy Gets Rigorous TSA Pat-Down; Family Misses Flight Over Incident

 

The ever-controversial screening policies of the TSA are under the microscope again after Dina Frank, a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, was rigorously patted down to the point where her family missed their flight.

"They make our lives completely difficult," Dina's father, Joshua Frank, told The Daily, as reported by CBS Washington, referring to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Dina's "not a threat to national security."

Dina's condition prevents her from being able to go through metal detectors at airports because of her leg braces and crutches, which means TSA agents have to pat her down.

The experience is usually uncomfortable for Dina and her family asks that TSA agents be friendly with her during the pat down.

But Monday's incident did not go as usual for Dina, as the agents were aggressive with her, the Franks said.

The pat-down ordeal caused the Franks to miss their flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to their destination in Florida.

Joshua Frank is the latest to criticize the TSA over their screening policies, joining celebrities such as model Bar Refaeli, who suggested the TSA agent who patted her down must have been a lesbian over the way she was handled by the agent.

But did the TSA reach a new low over Dina's pat-down?

"They're harassing people. This is totally misguided policy," Frank said. "Yes, I understand that TSA is in charge of national security and there's all these threats. For [Dina] to be singled out, it's crazy."

The incident came just three days after Dina was featured on CBS 2 New York after she was able to take her first steps after getting a Botox treatment.

Dina's mother, Marcy Frank, hailed the new treatment.

"Now she'll walk around the neighborhood. We don't need to take the wheelchair anywhere anymore. It's incredible," Marcy Frank told the news station.

Dina's father said the treatment has changed his daughter's life.

"As a parent, it's just amazing to be able to see your daughter walk out onto the driveway and onto a school bus instead of having to be put in a wheelchair and having to be lifted onto the school bus is a life we couldn't have even imagined a year ago," he said. 

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