Guest contributor, Kristin Gifford, shares her personal experience with autism and airports and how it has become a reality at the Minneapolis Airport.
We had splurged to purchase tickets for a kids’ train event we knew our five-year-old
would love. We had driven a couple hours to Duluth, riding out a bout of car sickness.
We had looked at pictures and videos and talked happily about the favorite characters
he would get to meet and the themed activities that would be available. He was excited,
beaming from the backseat despite his churning tummy. We found parking and skipped
out of the car towards the balloon-adorned entrance where we were greeted with
waving streamers, a throng of happy kids, and the cheerful piping of train whistles. My
child covered his ears, shut his eyes, collapsed crying in the muddy gutter, and refused
to take another step.
When autism is part of your family’s story, one becomes accustomed to an
accumulation of negative public experiences. The world is just not designed for the
comfort of autistic individuals. Whether it’s sounds, smells, crowds, chaos,
conversations, or unexpected interruptions to usual routines, everywhere from the
grocery store to the playground is rife with potential triggers. These negative
experiences add up–for both autistic children and their parents, making us brace
ourselves anytime we leave our home–especially anytime we walk through a new
doorway. Even though most strangers offer sympathetic smiles, I don’t think it will ever
be easy to weather my child’s meltdowns when away from home. The world can quickly
become a smaller and smaller place.
This is why our recent experience with Navigating MSP was so meaningful–it provided
an opening, a way towards a positive public experience and all the possibilities that
come along with a new doorway. Navigating MSP is a FREE, monthly program
sponsored by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Fraser, and the Autism Society of
Minnesota for any families with special needs at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
Equipped with all the supports needed to help families get from airport entrance to
take-off, this program has the potential to make air travel possible for families that
otherwise wouldn’t consider it. Navigating MSP offered precisely the practice and
exposure that we needed.
An airport is basically a buffet of experiences that could quickly be spoiled for families
with special needs. There are unfamiliar rules that involve people in uniform, long lines,
luggage, machines to walk through and clothing items that might need to come off.
Then there are the bright lights, the cavernous space, the rushing, swirling crowds, the
moving escalators and sidewalks, all the food smells, and the barrage of continuous
loudspeaker announcements. And these experiences all need to be digested before
even stepping through the narrow doorway of an airplane–with its own sights, sounds,
smells, people, textures, and rules.
I had zero expectations about our practice airport visit. The plane we would hopefully
board would not move from the gate. We had not spent any money on this venture.
Whatever we were able to experience would be worthwhile as long as it was positive.
And guess what? The entire hour and half–through security, the mall, the concourse,
and the plane was great. When I think about what made this refreshing gift possible for
our family, it is the predictability, the pace, and the presence/presents offered by this
program.
1. Predictability: Our family was emailed links to social stories we were able to use
before our visit as well as a detailed explanation of where to park, what to expect,
and who to contact if we had questions. When we checked in, parents were
given a lanyard with picture cards of each step our children would navigate
during the experience. My child loved seeing the next card and feeling like he
was in control of the experience. The friendly volunteers and airport staff also
provided clear explanations along the way. Our guide and a very friendly support
dog named Getty stayed close. Although my child wasn’t able to speak or
interact with all the new people, I could tell he felt safe as he walked alongside
our helpers.
2. Pace: Often, what prevents us from easily participating in a new experience with
our child is that we simply need more time to help him adjust to what is going
on–in a rushed environment or situation this isn’t possible and stress quickly
mounts. Our visit was relaxed, full of mini pit-stops, and without the pressure of
arriving on time for a departing flight. The security line, normally a place where
you feel pressured to rush through many steps, was manned by staff that handed
out stickers, explained the steps, and allowed everyone to go at their own speed.
3. Presence/Presents: Like I mentioned, every person who interacted with us
during the visit was completely supportive and responsive to shifting needs. This
calm, secure presence meant so much to my family and allowed us to focus
completely on helping our child have a positive time. Presents also made a big
impact–I’m pretty sure that each person who helped us handed my child a
sticker–he even transferred them all to his jammies and wore them as badges of
his accomplishment to bed. He was given a cuddly, stuffed dinosaur (now named
“Squeaks, the dinosaur that comes with me on airplanes”) and a coloring book
about his adventure. Having tangible reminders of his positive experience
provides a bridge back to this good experience and forward to any airport
experience we hope to have in the future.
And just like that, another small sliver of the world has opened for us. I don’t know if or
when we will try to fly to a new location, but I do know that because of important
accommodations, the possibility is now there. When we left the terminal, my child
skipped happily through another muddy parking lot–but instead of a hopeful visit ending
prematurely in screams and sobs, I heard his bright voice say, “I did it! I’m ready to ride
on an airplane!” He tucked his special dino into the car, chattering to his new friend
about flying to see pandas at a far-away zoo, smiling about what the future might bring.
