Tips for Preparing an Autistic Child to Fly

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an Autistic Child to Fly

Posted by: " Trish E. Luberda "

<mailto:momeego@...?Subject=%20Re%3ATips%20for%20Preparing%20an%20Autist

ic%20Child%20to%20Fly> momeego@...

<http://profiles.yahoo.com/momeego> momeego

Sun Aug 3, 2008 8:03 am (PDT)

Courtesy of CEC-SmartBRIEF, July 24, 2008:

<http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-23-traveling-with-autism_N.htm>

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-23-traveling-with-autism_N.htm

By Kaplan, USA TODAY

With heightened security regulations and frequent delays, airplane travel

can be an unpleasant ordeal for anyone.

For a child who becomes anxious in close quarters, may have trouble

communicating and is sensitive to loud noises, it can be terrifying.

Those are common characteristics of autism, a developmental disability that

affects about one in every 150 American children and one in every 94 boys,

according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The condition has been getting more attention in the past five years through

advocacy groups such as Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America. But

it still gets negative attention: Last week, syndicated talk radio host

Savage said on his show that 99% of the time, a child with autism

was just " a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. " The comment drew

protests from the advocacy groups.

His comments probably refer to the behavior autistic children can exhibit

when they feel anxious, particularly in unfamiliar situations - they can

have meltdowns that involve crying, screaming or kicking. Last month, Janice

Farrell of Cary, N.C., and her 2-year-old autistic son, Jarret, were removed

from their American Eagle flight after Jarret began crying and screaming

uncontrollably. (The airline says Farrell also refused to stow her bag in

the proper place, which she denies.)

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for%20Autism> Center for Autism

Airline travel, which is a necessity for many families, has many

characteristics that can trigger such meltdowns. In addition to the break in

the normal routine - which many autistic children find stressful because

they have trouble anticipating what will happen - airplane travel involves

sitting still for long periods and being surrounded by crowds, says

Landa, director of the Center for Autism at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in

Baltimore.

" Take all the issues (normal adults) have with flying, magnify that by 100,

and put that into a child's body, " Landa says.

Gillespie of Philadelphia, whose 14-year-old son, n, has autism,

says: " You will run into any number of well-intentioned people who just look

at you as if you're a bad parent. There was a time that I was pretty

defensive about it. "

Both Landa and Ernsperger, who counsels families in the greater

Indianapolis area who are coping with autism, recommend preparing children

in the days leading up to the trip by making sure they know exactly what to

expect.

" I encourage families to go online and try to get pictures of the airport

terminals and planes and destination, " Ernsperger says. These pictures,

along with conversations about what the child will be doing, help families

create " social stories " so children are better able to anticipate exactly

what will happen to them.

Landa also recommends letting the child make some choices - such as choosing

his seat - to defray some of the anxiety and creating simple rules to define

the social situation. Gillespie made such a rule for n to let him know

what topics were off-limits on airplanes: terrorists, crashing and dying.

He and other parents say snacks and earphones for a child's favorite music

or movies are also a must.

It's important to let the airlines know about the situation so they can

accommodate the family as well. Many airlines have taken steps to make sure

that flight attendants and airport employees are trained to assist customers

with disabilities.

" A lot of it is just being forthright and making sure you prepare your

child, and you prepare those people who are going to come in contact with

your child, " says Bell, executive vice president for Autism Speaks.

The public can help too, Landa says. Her No. 1 rule: Don't judge.

" It's best to think, 'How can I be helpful?' " she says, whether that is

refraining from making a critical remark or offering to hold something for

the family.

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http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif RESOURCES TO HELP WHEN

CHILD IS FLYING

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If traveling with an autistic child, parents can consult these resources:

<http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gifThe>

http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gifThe Autism Society of

America sells wallet cards, left, that describe common characteristics of

autism and tips for interacting with autistic children that parents can give

to airline personnel. Purchase at

< <http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer>

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer> autism-society.org.

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http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gif Visit the Department

of Transportation website to read the Air r Access Act, which outlines

the rights of disabled passengers.

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http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gif Prepare for the trip

by showing your child pictures of the airplane, the terminal and the

destination.

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http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gif Alert the airline that

you will be traveling with an autistic child. Many airlines will allow you

to board first.

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http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/bullet.gif Choose a vacation

destination that will accommodate your needs. Many parents recommend Disney

World, which is known for its disabilities services.

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