TIP of the WEEK: Airline Travel
June 10, 2016
If you are planning to travel by air this summer with your child, a few plans made in advance can help to make it a smooth experience.
Call the airline ahead of time and ask for early boarding. Many families tell the airline that their child has autism because it is a more recognizable condition and people have adequate knowledge of it allowing for special treatment with little explanation on your part.
When booking your flight be sure the airline that you are using does not offer unlimited snacks and drinks. Some of the airlines do this and unless you tell them when you board to not offer snacks to you at all, this can cause major disruptions in flight.
Make a social story ahead of time describing a typical airline routine.
Noise cancelling headphones can help for individuals that cannot tolerate loud noises.
Have a printout describing the syndrome that can be given to authorities in the event of a behavioral issue while you are in the airport. It may be difficult for you to describe the syndrome well if you are under duress.
Airline travel can be a quick and successful experience of you make plans and adjustments in advance.
Patrice Carroll is Latham Centers’ world-renowned Prader-Willi Syndrome specialist. She works with Latham Centers’ residents with PWS, their families and consultants, continuously learning and teaching about PWS best practices.