Today, I really wanted to talk about the autism support that is now available at airports. As most of you know, I’ve been travelling a lot lately. For the first time on my recent travels I came across the ‘Hidden Disabilities Lanyard’ on one of my travels.
If you don’t know about the ‘Hidden Disabilities Lanyard’ this blog post will hopefully change travel for you.
Airports can be stressful places for many of us. But more with individuals with hidden disabilities, like Autism. There is lots of potential for change – and this change can be immediate. If your flight gets delayed that’s extra time unaccounted for. And you may have to try and occupy the individual – and hope that they are able to cope with the delay.
- queueing for check in
- sorting the luggage
- queuing for security
- going through security etc.
So, what is it?
What does it do?
First, I’m going to comment on the experience that I saw. We were travelling from a large London airport and the lanyard caught my eye. I noticed it because I’ve paid close attention to the lanyard process. Staff members would approach the individual and offer him any support. They made sure to be great at supporting him, without drawing any attention to him. They would talk in lowered voices to him, and get down to his level, talking to him. We were 2 seats over and couldn’t hear any of the talking – which is great as we don’t want everyone hearing our business!
What else?
Well, there’s a lot that airports and airlines can now do to help accommodate. My biggest recommendation, is to phone your airline and/or airport in advance so that you can get your plans set. You don’t want to turn up at the airport and then sort everything out. The wait time could be quite stressful for the individual.
Special assistance will help you get through check in and security much quicker. It will also mean you won’t spend long waiting in queues. Staff will notice the lanyard and will be supportive of any needs you may have. This can provide the individual with a much more positive experience.
Sensory rooms! Gatwick airport have become the first airport to open a sensory room. I haven’t been in the room – I didn’t feel like it was very appropriate for me to go and have a nose in case anyone was using it! – but from what I have seen in the news, it looks amazing. This room will be a real game changer for many individuals. It can be a great base for you to cool down away from the craziness of the airport.
When we arrived at our destination, staff came to talk to the individual wearing the lanyard. They talked him through the steps of immigration, (we were travelling to USA). Staff also told him there is a member of staff waiting for them when they get off the plane to help them through. They kept him back until everyone had left the plane and chatted with him the entire time. When he got off the plane, he was introduced to a member of staff and we saw him go straight through immigration.
These steps may seem small to outsiders, but honestly, I think it’s a real game changer. Every month I watch there be more autism awareness – which is fantastic. The airports are working with charities like the National Autistic Society. This helps them to make sure they are offering the best support and accommodations they can. And, if you think that something could be improved – just chat with a member of staff!
The staff that we talked to, had all been on courses to make them more aware. Staff said the courses gave them the information to support a range of disabilities. And that is what will make travelling so much easier for many of our families.
But, wait. There’s more..
Did you know that Virgin Holidays for the last year have been working with Jo-Ann D’Costa-Manuel? Jo-Ann is the founder and director of a charity called Autism Parent Empower. They are working together to provide Virgin holiday staff with training about autism. They are also looking at how they can make their holiday packages more accommodating. There’s even mention of them using a symbol to use in brochures so you know when a hotel is autism friendly! How fantastic is that? You can read the full article here.
Have you had any experiences with airports and airlines? Were they positive or negative?
If you are looking for some extra support to use when going on holiday with an individual with autism, be sure to check out my social story. This social story has been working great with many individuals with autism, over a range of ages all around the world.
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