How do you deal with an autistic child at the airport?

Contact your airline's disability assistance department for more information. Create your own social story to help your child walk through specific events she will experience at the airport and on the airplane. Some airlines provide their own social story you can use or build on.



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A good place to start is to prepare a one page document with information stating the diagnosis, any allergies or medications, and other special information (i.e. communication ability). Persons with autism should always carry identification. Make sure an ID tag is attached somewhere on the individual.

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Tip 6: Skip the queues Once in the terminal, it is worth talking to a member of the staff near the check-in line, as they can normally send you down to a disabled or priority passenger line to check in, which is less stressful.

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Boarding. Notify the gate attendant that you are traveling with a child with an ASD and you will be allowed to board early or board last depending on your preference. Advantages of boarding early include not needing to wait in line at the gate or on the airplane while other passengers take their seats.

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If she can sleep on a plane, naptime may be a good time to fly. Plan ahead for your seats. Consider requesting bulkhead or aisle seats, particularly if your child likes to kick his or her legs or move around. > If possible, visit the airport ahead of time to help your child get used to the crowds, sights and sounds.

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Bring items to keep your child entertained. Be sure to pack your child's favorite toys, books, snacks, headphones and plane-safe electronics. Keep in mind that there will be times when electronics may not be used on the plane.

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Delta, Southwest, and United all allow this extra support. JetBlue may be a low-budget carrier, but they have a program that allows for silent boarding, so passengers with disabilities can settle in and get used to their surroundings before the other passengers' board.

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DPNA. If you're travelling with a child who has autism, this four-letter “airline autism code” could make your flight a whole lot easier. It stands for “Disabled passenger with intellectual or developmental disability needing assistance“. This code lets the airline staff know that you need extra help.

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A disability notification card helps TSA agents know what to expect so that they can better serve individuals with autism, cognitive disorders, or other challenges. This will help the TSA agent to adjust their expectations so that your family isn't treated differently for having someone who is on the autism spectrum.

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Wearing a sunflower lanyard enables passengers to self-identify to staff that they have a hidden disability.

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Starting March 19, 2021, guests with a medical disability who are traveling on or after March 22, 2021 can apply for an exemption as provided for in the federal mandate requiring masks in airports and on planes.

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The Sensory Room is an interactive space designed to help travelers who are neurodivergent and may become overwhelmed by a bustling and unfamiliar place.

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