Traveling with neurodiverse children often feels like navigating a maze of challenges, but a new initiative from Autism Double-Checked and Breeze Airways is helping families build confidence and ease the anxiety of air travel.
Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport held its first-ever Autism Flies event, offering families of children with autism and other neurodiverse conditions the chance to experience the full air travel process — without the stress of an actual flight. From check-in and security to a simulated 15-minute flight, this unique event allowed families to practice and prepare, providing them with tools to ease the stress of future trips.
Marcella Almeida, whose children have Fragile X syndrome, expressed hope for their dream to take a trip to Disney World. “If they can put together events like this, maybe it will open people’s eyes to how hard travel can be for families like mine,” she shared.
With trained flight crews, gate agents, and a supportive environment, the event provided families with practical tools to ease the challenges of air travel — making it just a little bit easier to take that first family vacation or visit loved ones far away. While it doesn’t eliminate all the stress, it’s an important step toward making air travel more inclusive and accessible for the autism community.
To learn more, check out the full article in The Boston Globe that appeared on the front page of the Travel section!
