Miami International Airport (MIA) has taken a meaningful step to ease the travel anxiety for children on the autism spectrum, launching an air travel rehearsal program during Autism Acceptance Month. The MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness program provided a practice run for these kids and their families, aiming to familiarize them with the process and to hopefully quell any fears of flying.
The program allowed participants to literally walk through the entire airport process, from the check-in desk, through the anxiety-inducing security checkpoints, and onto the airplane. This initiative not only offers a chance to understand and adapt to the daunting environment of an airport but also to largely increase the comfort level of these children with special needs when they do truly get to spread their wings and fly. “The next time they come, and they’re actually taking a flight, they’re not anxious, they’re not scared. They know exactly what to expect. They’ve been through the process, and that is transformative for our families and our passengers,” Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado told WSVN.
In a similar program at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport named Autism in Flight, the airport collaborated with Broward County Public Schools to offer an end-to-end experience of airport travel, complemented by classroom lessons in the preceding weeks. "You have to collaborate with partners, to create experiences like this," Dr. Howard Hepburn, BCPS’ Superintendent of Schools, stressed in a statement obtained by WSVN.
MIA also caters to children with other disabilities, with MIA Director Ralph Cutie emphasizing inclusivity. "Our goal by having this program is for anyone, regardless of their disability, to be able to experience the magic and wonder of flight like everyone else can," Cutie told CBS News Miami. Families participating in these programs have voiced their appreciation, expressing the lifeline such opportunities present. Notably, a mother prepared a special t-shirt for her son to raise awareness among fellow passengers in anticipation of their next flight. "I hope everybody is understanding and kind," Lavinia Ana stated.
