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Library Categories > Travel > Flying can be a rough ride for autistic children, families

 
Library Item Name:

Flying can be a rough ride for autistic children, families 		   
Summary Statement:

Airline travel, which is a necessity for many families, has many characteristics that can trigger such meltdowns. In addition to the break in the normal routine — which many autistic children find stressful because they have trouble anticipating what will happen — airplane travel involves sitting still for long periods and being surrounded by crowds, says Rebecca Landa, director of the Center for Autism at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

"Take all the issues (normal adults) have with flying, magnify that by 100, and put that into a child's body," Landa says.

James Gillespie of Philadelphia, whose 14-year-old son, Brendan, has autism, says: "You will run into any number of well-intentioned people who just look at you as if you're a bad parent. There was a time that I was pretty defensive about it."

Both Landa and Kelly Ernsperger, who counsels families in the greater Indianapolis area who are coping with autism, recommend preparing children in the days leading up to the trip by making sure they know exactly what to expect.
Tags:

airplanes,  travel
Submission Date:

07/25/2008by: shannonj
Current rating:


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