November 2022
Children with autism and their families aboard an American Airlines aircraft hearing safety messaging from crew as they ready to taxi around the runway.
Air travel can be stressful for even the most experienced of travelers with the large crowds, lines, loud noises and security procedures. Traveling with kids adds even more stress to the mix and now imagine if that child has autism. “Loud places, unfamiliar routines, big groups of people all moving in different directions, it can be overwhelming,” Melanie Soto, the State Director of The Arc of Arizona explains. Wings for Autism® is a partnership between The Arc of Arizona, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and American Airlines that provides the opportunity for families of children with autism to be able to test run air travel. This popular event has been hosted for seven years at the airport, giving children with autism and their families an opportunity to plan for the traveling experience at an airport with a rehearsal. “Even though it’s a simulation, it allows families that opportunity to see if this is something their child would struggle with and to find other coping mechanisms to make air travel successful,” Soto said.
Families like Bryan and Catharine Layton from Austin, Texas who traveled more than 1,000 miles by car with their son Brennan to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after learning there was availability in the first Wings for Autism® event since the pandemic.
“It took us three days to drive here. It was because we have just been unsuccessful flying with him, so this was an opportunity where we had enough time to go through the process, so Brennan was comfortable with it. He has missed out on a lot of family things because we just didn’t have the time to drive back and forth,” Catharine shared. “This is going to just change everything for him.”
Families comes to the airport with baggage in tow and they get to experience the entire process from checking in, getting a boarding pass, going through TSA, and they even get to board the plane.
During the rehearsal, the airplane engines are running so kids can feel – and hear – what that is like. The planes don't actually leave the ground, but when it's time for "takeoff" the cabin door is closed and safety announcements are made before a short taxi on the plane so the kids can feel the movement they would experience in a normal trip. According to the CDC, 1 in 64 children in Arizona is on the autism spectrum. “Having programs available for family with autism that happen at the speed of autism is invaluable, we need more of them across the country,” Brian said. “You can’t put a value on what Brennan just did.” The family was featured in this Cronkite News video about the program.
“The event also is valuable to airport staff and airline employees as it gives them a real-life opportunity to understand how to accommodate individuals with autism,” said Director of Aviation Services Chad Makovsky. “The event can help staff learn what to look for and how to handle certain situations.”
And this year, airport staff received an extra special reward when the Layton family shared a photo from Disneyland. A trip they were able to take from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after the Wings for Autism® event.
Top photo: The Layton family selfie from the It’s a Small World After All ride at Disneyland following a successful flight with Brennan.
Bottom photo: Director of Aviation Services Chad Makovsky, Melanie Soto, State Director of The Arc of Arizona, and Sophia Philis-Ortiz, Managing Director of American Airlines at PHX, hold the Proclamation from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego declaring Oct. 21, 2022 Wings for Autism® day in the City of Phoenix.