As the last of the Halloween candy finally gets eaten and the remaining autumn leaves blow away in the chilly November winds, our attention turns to the holiday season and the joys of spending time with family and friends. For many families who have loved ones at various parts of the country, the planning process to spend Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house often requires some thought about travel. Being able to hop in the car and take a long drive to spend the holiday weekend with Aunt Bessie in Cleveland, or boarding an airplane for a Thanksgiving trip to a family gathering in Kansas City is something many of us take for granted, costs aside.
But for people with autism and their families, these seemingly easy tasks pose huge challenges that many consider almost unthinkable.
Individuals on the autism spectrum often share common traits that include:
- Avoiding eye contact with others, preferring to be alone.
- Becoming upset with minor changes in routine or surroundings
- Sensory overload reactions tosounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors.
Because air travel involves the hustle-bustle of airports, people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities are often challenged to process new environmental experiences comfortably. As a result, families will often rule out air travel.
There had to be a way to make air travel a reality for people with sensory-overload disabilities.
This past May, The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties – a local chapter of the national organization – – presented Wings for All®, a unique rehearsal event for people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities to have a real-life experience using an airport when traveling by plane. Formally known as Wings for Autism®, The Arc partnered with Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) for a third consecutive year in hosting the event, and with Allegiant Air who provided a plane for participants to experience boarding, seating and exiting an aircraft.
More than 50 pre-registered local people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities along with family members, began arriving at LVIA on a beautiful May afternoon to begin their air travel rehearsal experience. The process included proceeding to the ticketing counter to receive their boarding pass, going through security, walking through the airport terminal, and finding a seat at the gate, where they waited to board. Allegiant Air personnel welcomed each person with a disability, along with one family member to accompany them onto the plane, and instructed everyone about safety procedures associated with a flight. Finally, everyone departed the aircraft and were welcomed to a special reception.
More than 40 volunteers were on hand to assist the individuals and families to successfully complete the experience, with helpful tips and suggestions they can use when traveling by air in the future. Airport employees, along with staff and supporters of The Arc, served as volunteers. The Arc provided training, which has been used by the airport personnel in better serving the needs of people with disabilities throughout the entire year.
This special project, made possible by community partnerships and concerned local people, has made a real and lasting difference in the lives of so many people who are now confident to travel by air.
Wings for All® is a trademarked event of The Arc of The United States. The program was originated by the Charles River Center, a local chapter of The Arc in Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Port Authority.
- Bruce Seidel and Karen Shoemaker, The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties
