|  | Conditions Treatments | Autism

How to Fly With Autistic Children

Autistic children often become overstimulated, especially in a new environment or social situation. Loud noises and new sights may fatigue them, leading to a crying "meltdown." Flying can be a particularly trying ordeal for autistic children, with the busy terminals full of people, long airport lines and lengthy flights. Prepare your autistic child for flying by describing this new experience to him and "creating simple rules to define the social situation," as recommended by USA Today.

Things You'll Need

  • Pictures
  • Picture books
  • Movies
  • Cartoons
  • CD player
  • CDs
  • Earphones
  • DVD player
  • DVDs
  • Snacks
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Call the airline at least a week before your trip and inform them that your child is autistic. Many airlines train their flight attendants about how to interact with customers with disabilities, according to USA Today. Some airports have even staged mock flights especially for autistic children, so that they can become accustomed to the procedure before the trip.

    • 2

      Prepare your child by showing him pictures of planes and airports. Show him relevant picture books and movies or cartoons.

    • 3

      Discuss what your child may expect throughout the week prior to your trip. Talk with him about going inside the airport, waiting in line, boarding the plane and sitting in the plane. Explain to him in plain language what noises and sights he will hear and see. Do not either elaborate or downplay a situation, as "autistic children are very literal," according to John Minor in an interview with The Washington Post.

    • 4

      Explain to your child about inappropriate topics on an airplane. Tell him that he may not talk about crashes, terrorists and similar topics on the plane, because it would upset the other passengers.

    • 5

      Pack toys to keep your child occupied during the flight. Bring along a CD player with CDs and earphones or a portable DVD player with a few DVDs, recommends USA Today.

    • 6

      Ask the airline about bringing snacks on board. Provide your child with a few of his favorite snacks, depending on how long the flight is.

    • 7

      Talk to the flight attendants when your family boards the plane. Inform them that your child is autistic and request a seat with few neighbors, if possible. When sitting near other people is unavoidable, explain the situation to them. If your child does have a meltdown, they may be less likely to make crude or exasperated remarks because they understand the situation.

Autism - Related Articles