{"id":6894,"date":"2017-04-14T16:58:41","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T20:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=6894"},"modified":"2017-04-19T09:12:49","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T13:12:49","slug":"wings-for-autism-acclimates-children-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/wings-for-autism-acclimates-children-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings for Autism acclimates children, adults to air travel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Delta pilot Eric Ries shares tips for traveling with individuals with autism at Wings for Autism event April 12.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Anika Robertson
\nSenior Editor\/Assistant Public Relations Manager<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

Dozens of children and adults took their first \u201cflight\u201d April 12 with Wings for Autism, a dress rehearsal designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and aviation professionals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).<\/p>\n

ATL hosted the second annual event in partnership with Delta Air Lines, the Transportation Security Administration, The Arc Georgia and The Arc of the Midlands.<\/p>\n

\u201cAir transportation is a critical part of our lives,\u201d Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. said. \u201cMany navigate through security, board planes and jet off to destinations near and far. While this is a normal routine for some, the air travel experience can be particularly challenging for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s event on Concourse E drew about 130 local individuals and families, who navigated the airport, maneuvered through security, boarded a Delta plane and toured the cockpit.<\/p>\n

Wings for Autism facilitator and Delta pilot Eric Ries explained the \u201csensory overload\u201d that affects individuals with autism, including his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been all over the world. I\u2019ve faced many challenges with mountainous terrain, language barriers, wind, rain, turbulence, all sorts of challenging and stressful situations,\u201d Ries said. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think it was as stressful sometimes as traveling with my son in the early stages.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed the hypersensitivity to smell, sound and light, the difficulty at the airport when traveling, the meltdowns on the airplane, and at first I thought it was the terrible twos, turning into terrible threes \u2026 Finally the diagnosis came \u2026 Now he\u2019s 10 years old, and I\u2019ve traveled 45 times with him to many states and he does amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking to other families and learning through trial and error, Ries compiled tips for traveling with an individual with autism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe families that come are literally frightened and scared to death to get on an airplane,\u201d he said. \u201cBy the end of the tour, I can\u2019t tell you [the number of] empowering statements we get.\u201d<\/p>\n

Launched in March 2016, Wings for Autism aligns with ATL\u2019s customer service initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough collaboration, we continue to focus on providing a safe and secure environment for all passengers to create a memorable experience for all our guests,\u201d said Guest Relations Manager Carol Gaddis, who organized the event.<\/p>\n

The Arc\u2019s national network promotes and protects individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their inclusion and participation in the community.
\n\u201cWings for Autism was created by one of The Arc chapters to help a family in Boston who didn\u2019t think they\u2019d ever be able to travel on a plane \u2026 and now it\u2019s a national event,\u201d said Stacey Ramirez, state director of The Arc Georgia. \u201cI\u2019ve seen \u2026 how it\u2019s changed our lives and opened a whole new world of travel and opportunity.\u201d
\nThe program also prepares airport, airline, TSA and other personnel to interact with autistic individuals and deliver services in a structured learning environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to ensure that all our Airport team members and partners are sensitive to the needs of those with autism,\u201d Council said. \u201cWith specialized training, our personnel will be able to recognize \u2013 and know how to handle \u2013 potential challenges with understanding, patience and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

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