Birmingham, AL – On September 10, The Arc of Jefferson County will hold a Wings for Autism® event at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) for the second time. This event is being held in partnership with the Birmingham Airport Authority, Delta Airlines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), HMS Host, and the Doug Flutie Foundation. Wings for Autism®, one of The Arc’s newest national initiatives, is an airport “rehearsal” specially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families and aviation professionals. Originated by a local chapter of The Arc in Massachusetts, Wings for Autism® is designed to alleviate some of the stress that families who have a child with autism experience when traveling by air. The program provides families with the opportunity to practice entering the airport, obtain boarding passes, go through security, and board a plane.
Wings for Autism® also gives airport, airline, TSA professionals and other personnel the opportunity to observe, interact and deliver their services in a structured, learning environment. This experience is equally useful for families that have a member with other intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) that are concerned about the ability of their family member to travel.
More than 60 families from the Birmingham area have signed up to benefit from this experience. Upon arrival, event attendees will check in to receive their boarding pass, go through security, and be greeted at the gate prior to boarding the plane.
“We are excited to be bringing the Wings for Autism™ program back to Birmingham. For parents of children with autism spectrum disorders, everyday tasks can sometimes prove to be far more difficult for their child. Air travel can prove particularly challenging between clearing security, the overwhelming noises, and harsh lights. This program will not only alleviate the stress children and their parents may feel, but help educate airport and airline professionals about how best to serve children with autism or other intellectual and developmental disabilities in the future. We are grateful to our partners on the ground in Birmingham – the Birmingham Airport Authority, Delta Airlines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and HMS Host– who are committed to making air travel possible for families with children with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Chris B. Stewart, CEO/President of The Arc of Jefferson County.
“We are very proud and excited to have the 2nd annual Wings For Autism event at the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport. Last year’s event launched a full year of events throughout the state. We are proud to be partners with The Arc of Jefferson County and to help the families impacted by autism come through our doors. Each event teaches us how to be better ambassadors to the passengers we serve in central Alabama, which is always our goal. We hope it helps to relieve the stress and anxiety coupled with air travel for our families,” said Toni Herrera-Bast, Birmingham Airport Authority PR/Marketing Manager.
The Arc - The Arc advocates for and serves people with I/DD, including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of 665 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.
Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.
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