Summary
Comprehensive guide helping parents prepare autistic children (ages 5-18) for air travel. Covers sensory accommodations, airline communication, visual schedules, and age-specific independence strategies to reduce flight distress.
Key Points
Airport chaos, security lines, takeoff roar, and ear pressure pain overwhelm autistic children ages 5-10. Parents succeed by calling airlines 72 hours ahead for priority boarding and quiet seats away from bathrooms, packing full sensory kits, and reviewing laminated visual schedules daily. Chewy tubes or gum (check allergies/intolerances first) relieve ear pressure—practice at home. Parents narrate every step while modeling calm breathing. Goal: Complete first flight with under 10 minutes total distress through systematic preparation.