Victoria International Airport offering autism resource kits for travellers
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) has partnered with the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) to make autism resource kits available to children, young people and families who are travelling by air.
The kits were specially developed by CAN to help reduce the anxiety of travel, including noise-cancelling headphones, sensory fidget items and an air travel themed activity book.
CAN says that in the near future, the kits will also include an interactive checklist, an airport map and travel tips.
"Having these resource kits available at YYJ is a game changer," said CAN training and engagement director Hallie Mitchell.
"With one in 29 children and youth on the spectrum in B.C., this new initiative seeks to increase autism accessibility, reduce the anxiety associated with air travel and help with some of those sensory sensitivities that folks might encounter[while travelling]."
Mitchell adds that she hopes the kits will help more people feel like travelling by plane is a possibility for them and their family.
To launch the program, YYJ welcomed 50 people from the CAN community to rehearse the entire pre-flight experience. The April 29 event included a step-by-step walkthrough of the air travel process, from check-in and pre-flight security to boarding an airplane for a simulated flight.
"Many people on the autism spectrum experience anxiety and sensory sensitivities related to air travel, and for some individuals and families this holds them back from travelling," said Mitchell.
"Airport rehearsals can greatly benefit autistic individuals and the step-by-step travel resources can help people understand what the experience will look like leading them to feel less anxiety and a little more predictability about the experience."
The partnership between CAN and the Victoria International Airport Authority to make the autism resource kits available launched after the success of the program at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Kelowna International Airport (YLW). The program also received support from the Air Canada Foundation.
"Families who have access to resources and who come in to an airport environment that is accepting and understanding of some of the differences they might face are welcomed in to that air travel experience," said Mitchell. "They feel that world of air travel is a possibility for their family."
The autism resource kits are available at the YYJ's Red Coat information desk in arrivals, or the customer service desk in the departures area and online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.
Bangkok hospital says most seriously injured from turbulence-hit flight need spinal operations
Many of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence need operations on their spines, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
Tiny plastic shards found in human testicles, study says
Human testicles contain microplastics and nanoplastics at levels three times higher than animal testes and human placentas, a new small study found.