![]() This may help the child become familiar with the airport security process prior to the day of travel. Contact your local airport to see if TSA will allow you and your child to do a practice walk-through of airport security. It may be helpful to prompt your child if they forget to cover a topic (e.g., “Tell me about boarding the plane”).Īccommodations. To accommodate travelers with disabilities, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has established a protocol that allows for special accommodations.ĭo a practice run. For a child who uses a “speaker box,” program the device to have pictures of the different steps of the day (e.g., getting in the taxi, checking in at the front desk). For example, for a child with strong verbal skills, ask the child to explain verbally or through drawings what the travel day will look like. This approach should be tailored to meet your child’s developmental level. This technique can demonstrate how much of the traveling process the child has grasped, and will expose areas where the child is not secure, or still has questions. Have your child explain the process to you. Once you have taken the time to prepare your child for travel, encourage him or her to explain the process to you, or to his or her toys. High gross-motor activities, like running or jumping on a trampoline, for approximately 20 minutes are examples of ideal activates. Encouraging high motor activity prior to leaving for the airport will help your child to relieve any bottled up energy before getting to the airport. Also, remember to pack chewy foods, like fruit gummies or a bagel, for a child who seeks sensory stimulation orally.Įxercise prior to departure. Traveling on an airplane involves long periods of being quiet and sitting still. In light of this, it may be helpful to pack a variety of snacks and mini meals for your child. This can prove troublesome if your child has any dietary restrictions or if your child is a picky eater. Pre-pack meals and snacks. There may be a limited assortment of foods offered in the terminal or on the airplane. Having a favorite item that smells like home, such as a blanket or a plush toy, can be soothing in such an environment. If possible, do not wash any comfort items before travel. Traveling on an airplane can be overwhelming to the senses to any traveler, let alone to a child with ASD. Utilizing a calendar presents the concept of time in a concrete and visual way, and may help your child to prepare for when a change in their routine will occur. ![]() Mark it on a calendar. A few weeks prior to travel, hang a calendar with the departure date clearly marked and have your child check off each day until departure. This will help to increase predictability for your child in an otherwise unfamiliar process. Review this “travel book” as often as possible prior to departure. Include sensory experiences the child might encounter such as “ear-popping” at takeoff and landing. Include pictures and/or descriptions of security, the terminal, the airplane, the baggage claim, and so on. It is important to remember that children diagnosed with ASD vary in terms of abilities and preferences, and not all recommendations may suit every child with ASD.Ĭreate a social story. In the weeks leading up to your trip, create a picture and/or word social story with your child that overviews the air-travel process. ![]() The following recommendations have been found beneficial to families planning air travel. This may be particularly true for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because of factors connected to flying, including a change in routine, navigating unfamiliar environments and considerable sensory stimulation. ![]() By Eliana Wool, M.A., Psychological Services Pre-Doctoral InternĪir travel can be an exciting, yet anxiety provoking experience.
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