TSA CARES
(National – across the United States)
Approximately 1.8 million passengers pass
through the Unites States’ airports every
day, and every one of these travelers must go
through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint. For many autistic individuals, this can be the most challenging part
of the flying experience. Crowds of people all
pushing to get their bags on the conveyer belt,
having to take off a jacket, shoes or put a favorite stuffed animal through a scary looking
machine, strangers belting out commands and
not giving you time to process what they are
saying – these things have meltdown written all
over them.
TSA is committed to ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and
needs, are treated equally and with the dignity,
respect, and courtesy they deserve. With this
in mind, they created their TSA CARES HELP
LINE!
Joshua J. waits eagerly as his helper Tara gives their Wings for All boarding passes to the TSA agent so they can go through security.
sands of feature films, television shows, and
commercials have been filmed over the past
15 years? Open to the public with limited seating and a small fee, Open Sky for Autism offers
a two-hour simulation program that assists
families with autism in gaining the confidence,
comfort, and enjoyment of air travel. For more
information, visit their website.
THE NAVIGATING
AUTISM PROGRAM
(Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport)
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC),
Fraser and the Autism Society of Minnesota
(AuSM) have teamed up to create this program,
which includes monthly events designed specifically for individuals with autism, to guide
families through the steps of an airport visit,
18
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
from walking in the door to finding their seats
on a plane. For more information and to register
your family, click HERE.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
AIRWAYS
(Gatwick Airport)
Our friends at AuKids magazine have told us
that this airline is really working to become autism-friendly. For example, families are invited
to schedule a visit to their state-of-the-art training facilities near Gatwick Airport, which offers
life-sized mock airplanes and check-in desks
to make air travel easier, or in some cases even
possible, for your autistic child or any nervous
passenger for that matter. For more information,
contact [email protected].
When you call the TSA Cares toll-free help line
at 1-855-787-2227, the person who answers will
do his best to answer questions about screening policies, procedures
and what to expect at the
security checkpoint so
that you can prepare your
special needs passenger.
The hours of operation for
the TSA Cares help line
ar e Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. EST
and weekends and Holidays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST.
Travelers who are deaf or
hard of hearing can use a
relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail
[email protected]. If you feel that
you or your autistic loved one may require extra
support getting through the security process,
this is also the number you would call to request
a TSA Passenger Support Specialist.
TSA has more than 2,600 Passenger Support
Specialists who receive specialized disability
training at airports across the country to assist
passengers who require additional assistance
with security checkpoint screening. All passengers, even those with disabilities, are required
to be screened, and specialized support people
are available to make the experience easier by
listening to what it is the person with disabilities
may need and then making accommodations
when necessary. A possible accommodation
may include meeting families and escorting
them through the entire screening process.
(NOTE: TSA encourages passengers needing this extra support
to call TSA CARES 72 hours to a week prior to your travel
date. While TSA will do everything they can to help and while
they do offer this service free of charge, passenger support specialists may not be available at every airport. )
“TSA has more than 2,600 Passenger
Support Specialists who receive
specialized disability training at airports
across the country to assist passengers who
require additional assistance
with security checkpoint screening.
”
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
19