Routine is essential for many individuals with autism. Any deviation from an established routine can result in major breakdowns. New experiences, like flying for the first time, are inevitable. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you better prepare your child for air travel.
Importance of Routine:
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), one of the primary diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is that the individual shows restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. Total Spectrum’s website highlights why routine is so important for individuals with autism:
- Many children with ASD have difficulty making sense of everyday movements, actions, and sounds; routine creates order in their lives.
- Children with ASD naturally tend to like repetitive actions. “Routine comes naturally to them, and it’s not hard for them to learn a productive routine in the place of an unproductive one.”
- Routine is known to relieve stress in almost all individuals; adding a routine to a child with autism’s life can help relieve his or her stress.
- Routine adds to the learning potential; once a child is relieved, it is much easier to help the child learn new things.
Sensory Rooms in Airports:
Airports can be stressful for anyone, but the hectic environment and noises tend to be extremely stressful for someone with autism. A lot of airports around the world offer calming spaces for travelers to relax before or after a flight. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport was the first airport to open a sensory room in 2016. Steve Mayers, Hartsfield-Jackson’s Director of Customer Experience and ADA Coordinator, said:
“We know it’s a fact that people get stressed when flying. We’ve found that it’s good to have a quiet room where people with or without disabilities, including people who are nervous about flying, can go to and relax before their flight, to give them a sense of relief and calm their nerves.”
Programs to prepare you and your child for flying:
In addition to sensory rooms popping up worldwide, there are three resources to help your child prepare for flying for the first time.
1. Soaring for Autism:
The Autism Society of Indiana (ASI) offers a unique experience for individuals of all ages with autism. ASI partnered up with the Indianapolis Airport Authority, TSA-Indy, and Delta Airlines for Soaring for Autism. Soaring for Autism allows individuals with autism to experience steps most people take when coming to the airport. This includes:
- Parking
- Taking the shuttle from the parking lot / walking through the garage
- Going to the ticketing counter
- Security screening
- Finding the gate
- Boarding the airplane, finding their seats, listening to the announcements
- Baggage claim
- Participants will also get to explore the plane and meet the pilot and flight attendants
Click here to learn more about Soaring for Autism.
2. TSA Cares:
TSA Cares is a “helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.” They can facilitate a 1:1 TSA passenger support specialist and shorter lines through the screening process.
Travelers requiring special accommodations should call 72 hours prior to traveling. Call 855-787-2227 for more information or visit the Transportation Security Administration’s website.
3. Wings for Autism:
The Arc offers a lot of resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One service they offer is the Wings for Autism program. Wings for Autism offers “airport ‘rehearsals’ specially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.”
The program is designed to help individuals with autism or other special needs get acclimated with flying. Through the Wings for Autism program, participants will have the opportunity to practice entering the airport, obtaining boarding passes, going through security, and boarding a plane.
For additional information regarding Wings for Autism, email Kerry Mauger at mauger@thearc.org or contact The Arc at 800-4333-5255.
