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Navigating an airport is stressful for all travelers. This is especially true for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and people with autism. Recently The Arc of the East Bay, Manos Home Care, Southwest Airlines, and The Arc of the United States hosted a Wings for All event at Oakland International Airport in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to alleviate some of the stress for travelers with disabilities.
Wings for All demystifies the air travel process by hosting airport rehersals. Would be travelers with disabilities and their families go through the entire airport check-in process. From getting boarding passes, going through TSA screening, to entering the plane and finding a seat, this everything but the flight experience is a wonderful opportunity to learn skills that make traveling easy.
65 people participated in the Oakland event on Saturday, Dec. 1st. As the event was set up for practice, travelers with disabilities had the time and support they needed to be successful. One father didn’t think that his adult son with Autism could get through the Scanning Booth, but after encouragement from dad and TSA staff, the third time was a charm.
The event was a learning experience for all involved. One TSA agent said they discovered that both the noise and quick motion of the scanner could be disturbing to people with autism. Hopefully this will translate to more sensitive treatment of their future passengers.
The Wings for All initiative hosts events at airports throughout the country. You can check The Arc of the United States for upcoming events. The next Wings for All at Oakland International is scheduled for this coming spring, we will add it to our “Upcoming” section below as soon as the date is released.
Christian McMahon, Communications Specialist, The Arc of California