Flying with a Special Needs Child

Today a friend of mine asked me for tips on flying with a special needs child since we just got back from our flight a couple weeks ago. Just like planning for a vacation with a special needs child, flying requires thinking ahead.

1.     Booking the Flight: Months before the trip, we book our flight. Here are some booking suggestions when traveling with a special needs child:

·        If you have travel flexibility, think about traveling during the week and at times when airports are least crowded (late at night).

·        If you book the flight by phone, talk to them about your child’s disability and special services you might need (such as pre-boarding, row in front of bulkhead, or wheelchair). If you book online, you can check the special services box and type services you will need.

·        When you check-in, make sure they are aware that you are traveling with a special needs child and need special services.

 

2.     Prepare the Child: Before a trip, I usually spend two weeks preparing my children. Here are some things I do to prepare them to fly:

·        Read stories and look at pictures about flying on a plane (A Day at the Airport by Richard Scarry, My First Airplane Ride by Vic Parker, Going on a Plane by Anne Civardi, The Noisy Airplane Ride by Mike Downs, and Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitton)  

·        Talk about behavior on a plane and read a social story about flying (http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Accessibility/Documents/SocialStories.pdf)

·        Look at airport sights and sounds( Download the app: “Off We Go: Going On A Plane” by Avril Webster)

·        Do a plane activity with plane stickers and coloring books (Disney Planes Coloring Book)

·         Role play with plane toys (Melissa and Doug Whittle World Plane with Carrier Set or Fisher Price Little People Lil Movers Airplane)

 

3.     Pack Therapy Equipment and Entertainment Items: Each of our children carry their own backpack with their own entertainment and therapy items. Here is the list of items we packed:

a.     Weighted item (blanket, lap pad, or animal)

b.     Chewy tube, stick, or chewlry

c.      Critter vibe

d.     Therapressure brush (I brush the kids before we get on the airplane)

e.     Sour spray or candy

f.       Gum

g.     Chewy and crunchy snacks

h.     Fidget

i.        Toy of choice

j.       Tablet with headphones (preload movies and games)

 

4.   Get to the Airport Early and Allow Extra Travel Time: When traveling with a family and a special needs child, time goes by pretty fast. You need to plan for every situation because you don’t know how they might respond. We planned extra time for bathroom breaks, meltdowns, and food stops.

Traveling can be stressful, but hopefully these four tips will help you. I have noticed that when I am calm, it tends to help my children with their anxieties. As an encouragement, the first trip might not go as smooth as planned, but every flight does get easier as your special needs child learns about flying routines. Good luck and safe travels!