Welcome to Wings for Autism - PowerPoint Presentation

Welcome to Wings for Autism® and Wings for All® Our Trip to the AirportPractice Guide

How to use the Trip to the AirportPractice GuideThis guide is for you to use as you prepare for your Wings for Autism® / Wings for All® eventIt details what you can expect to experience at the airportWe invite you to personalize this guide: Add your own photos and adviceDelete photos or advice you don’t need And use this guide to prepare for your next, real trip

The Wings for Autism program was conceived, designed and implemented by The Charles River Center (charlesrivercenter.org/1000/news/wings-for-autism) an affiliated program of The Arc and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Photo by Tyler Rhodes

A lot of people travel by airplaneTo visit familyTo visit friendsTo go on vacationTo go to meetingsTo go to school

But airports can be crowded and noisyA lot of peopleA lot of loud announcementsUnfamiliar sights, sounds and smellsA lot of lines and waiting

And airports have things we may not be familiar withEscalatorsElevatorsMoving sidewalksLong hallwaysAutomatic doors

So we’re going to the airport to get used to the sights and soundsWe’re not going to fly on an airplane todayWe can go as slowly as we wantWe can stop and take breaks when we need themWe can stop and go home at any time

First we’ll decide what to take to the airportWe can pack a carry-on bag that we take on the planeWe may be able to pack luggage that we check-in with the Ticket AgentWe’ll get our luggage back when we get off of the plane

Once we decide we’ll pack our bagsDo we want to pack toys, games, snacks or other things in our carry-on luggage?We can use these things while we wait to board our planeWe can use these things while we’re seated on the planeWe don’t have to pack anything if we don’t want to

And travel to the airportThere’s lots of ways people get to the airport:CarTaxi or shuttleBus TrainFerryHow will we travel to the airport?

If we drive we’ll park the carIf we travel by car we’re park it in a parking lotThen we’ll walk/roll to the terminalOn our way we may see wide open spaces so we’ll need to stay close to each other

Then we’ll walk/roll to the terminalWe’ll follow the Wings for Autism / Wings for All signs to the Ticket CounterOur walk/roll may be short or longThe airport may be noisy and crowdedWe can take our time and rest if we want to

Since this is a practice there may be a place for us to check-in We’ll go to the registration tableGive the person our name Listen to their instructions Ask any questions we may have Photo by An Pham

We may be asked if we’ll give permission for people to take our pictureWe can say yes or noThe photos will be used by The Arc to describe the Wings program to families, airports and airlinesAll of the pictures we’re looking at now are from people who said “Yes, you can use my photo”How do you feel about our photo being taken?

Our next step is to go the airline ticket counterThere will probably be a line and if there is we’ll have to wait our turnWe’ll tell the Ticket Agent our namesWe’ll provide a government-issued identification for people age 18 and over

Then we’ll get our boarding passThe Ticket Agent will give us our boarding passWe’ll need the boarding pass to go through securityWe’ll need the boarding pass to get on the planeWhere is a safe place we can keep our boarding pass so we don’t lose it?

We’ll make sure we have an address tagIf we don’t have an address tag on our luggage we can get one from the ticket counterWe’ll fill it outAnd attach it to our bag

If we have luggage we’ll check it at the gateSince this is a practice we may or may not have the chance to check in our luggageIf we do we’ll give it to an airline employeeThey’ll place our luggage on the airplaneWe’ll get our luggage back when we leave the airplane and go to baggage claimWe can take a small bag with us on to the airplane

If we want we can take lots of pictures to remember today’s experiencePhotos of the airport and their employeesPhotos of the plane and airline employeesPhotos of us!We can add the photos to this guide and use them on our next, real trip

We can explore inside the terminal If we have extra time we can explore the terminalThere are lots of things to see inside the terminalIf we want to take a break and sit we can

There are lots of things to see in the terminal

And lots of things outside the windows too Photo by An Pham

As we look around we can also take a breakFind a quiet place to waitIf time permitsIf we want to

Let’s see if our practice flight is on the departure screenIs our practice flight on the screen?Look for the flight number and gateOur practice flight may not be postedWhen we take a real flight information will be posted Photo by An Pham

After looking around it will be time to get in line and go through securityThe line may be very longThere may be a lot of people on line with usWe may have to be very patient Photo used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

We’ll follow the Transportation Security Administration Officer’s (TSA) InstructionsThe Officer will ask for our boarding pass and identificationThe Officer will write on our boarding pass that it’s OK for us to pass through security Photos used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

We’ll follow the TSA Officer’s InstructionsOnce we give the Officer our boarding pass and identification we’ll wait in the next lineThe line may be very longThere may be a lot of people on line with usWe may have to be very patientWe’ll see lots of Officers and equipment Photo used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

We’ll follow the TSA Officer InstructionsPick up a plastic binRemove our shoes (people over age 12)Remove our coatsRemove metal and electronics from our pockets (including belts)Place them in a gray binPut the bin on the conveyor belt

We’ll follow the TSA Officer’s instructionsWalk up to the X-ray machineWait for the Officer to tell us to walk throughWalk through slowlyDepending on the type of machine we may have to stop and raise our hands while they take an X-rayWait for the Officer to read the X-ray Photos used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

We’ll follow the TSA Officer’s instructionsSome people are a little afraid to walk through the X-ray machine by themselvesWe can take our timeOne of us can go through first and wait for you to go throughThe Officer won’t do anything that hurts Officers are very nice people whose job is to keep us safePhoto used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

Sometimes TSA Officers do additional screeningOfficers may wave a wand over our hands or bodyOfficers may make sure we don’t have anything under baggy clothingThe Officer won’t do anything that hurts Officers are very nice people whose job is to keep us safe Photos used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

Our last step is to pick up our belongingsGet our items from the plastic binWalk/roll to a chairPut our shoes and coats back on Photos used with permission from the Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs. Photo by Tara Parekh

Our next step is to go to our gate and wait for our planeThere will be a lot of people waiting at our gateWe may have to be very patientWe can use any toys, games, or snacks we packed in our carry-on luggage if we want

When the flight crew is ready we’ll hear the announcement to board the planeWe’ll put back anything we took out of our carry-on luggageWe’ll get our boarding pass And we’ll get on lineThe line will be very longThere will be a lot of people on line with usWe may have to be very patient Photos by Will Schermerhorn

Give our boarding pass to the Gate AgentThe Gate Agent will take our boarding passShe or he will place it in a machineThe machine will read our boarding pass and make a beeping soundWe may or may not get the boarding pass backThe Gate Agent will tell us to board the plane Photo by An Pham

Then we’ll walk down the jetwayA jetway is a hallway that connects the airport and the airplaneWe’ll get on lineThe line may be very longThere will be a lot of people on line with usWe may have to be very patientSome people are a little afraid to walk down the jetwayWe can take our time and walk together

And now we’re ready to board the airplaneWe’ll see a small gap between the jetway and the planeSome people are a little afraid of the gapWe can take our time and walk into the plane togetherOnce we’re on the plane we’ll meet the Pilots and Flight AttendantsThe airport and airline employees are volunteering their time today and are very happy to see usLet’s make sure to give them a big thank you!! Photo by Will Schermerhorn Photo by An Pham

We may have time to look around the airplaneBut only if the Flight Attendants say it’s OKAnd only if there is time If it’s OK and we have time we can look at the seats, the restrooms, and the overhead storage binsIf the cockpit door is open we can look inside Photo by An Pham

The Flight Attendants will tell us to store our luggageWe can place our carry-on bags in the overhead binOr we can place our carry-on bags under the seat in front of usIn a real fight all carry-on bags must be stored during take-off and landing Photo by Will Schermerhorn

The Flight Attendants will tell us to find our seatsThe Flight Attendants will use a Public Address system to make announcementsThey’ll tell us when it’s time to find our seats and fasten our seatbelts

We’ll hear lots of sounds on the airplaneThe announcements and sounds may be very loudWe’ll hear bellsWe’ll hear people talkingWe may hear the airplane door closeWe are allowed to wear noise cancelling headphones if we want to Photo by An Pham

We’ll experience other things in the airplane environmentWe may feel cold or hot air coming from the ventsThe lights may go on and offThe airplane will be crowded The seats may be small and have little legroomThe Flight Attendants may wheel a cart down the aisle This practice is your chance to get used to these unfamiliar things

Just like when we’re in a car we must fasten our seatbelts on an airplaneThis is to ensure our safetyThe Flight Attendants will tell us to fasten our seatbelts Photos by Will Schermerhorn

We’ll have time to look around our seatWe can open and close the window shadeWe can look outside the windowWe can open and close the tray tableWe can look at the magazines in the seatback pocketThere may even be a TV for us to watch Photos by Will Schermerhorn

The Flight Attendants will give us several safety announcementsWe’ll learn about oxygen masksWe’ll learn about safety vestsWe’ll learn about the lights on the floorWe’ll be told where to find the restroomsIt’s our job to listen carefully and be quiet so everyone can hear the announcements Photos by Will Schermerhorn

If we want we can take lots of pictures to remember today’s experiencePictures of the airplanePicture of the Pilots and Flight AttendantsPictures of other peoplePictures of us!We can post our photos on social media using the guide we receive from The ArcWe can add them to this guide and review them when we take a real trip Photo by An Pham

We’ll be on the plane for a little whileWe won’t be flying today, this is a practiceThe plane will probably stay at the gateThe Flight Attendants may announce that we can take things out of our carry-on luggageNow it’s time to play with toys, games, books we brought from home if we want toWe can also enjoy the snack we brought from home if we want to

The Flight Attendants will tell us when it’s time to get ready to leave the planePut away our belongingsStore our carry-on luggageFasten our seatbeltsPlace our seat in the upright positionClose our tray tablesThe Flight Attendants may collect any trash from us. If they don’t we’ll remove it from the plane ourselves

The Flight Attendants will tell us when our practice airplane trip is finishedWe’ll be told to unfasten our seatbeltsCheck the overhead binCheck the under the seat in front of usCheck the seatback pocketCollect everything we brought from homeLeave the airplane

Then we’ll walk back down the jetway againRemember, we’ll be on a lineThe line may be very longThere will be a lot of people on line with usWe may have to be very patient

And get off the planeThen we’ll be back in the airportAnd ready for the next stepWe should remember that the airport can be noisy and crowded Photo by Will Schermerhorn

If we’ve checked our luggageWe’ll go to baggage claimAnd pick up our luggageThere may be a lot of people waiting for their luggage so we’ll have to be patientPhoto by Will Schermerhorn

Some of the events have a receptionWe may hear a short welcome speech. We may have refreshments The room will be crowded and people will be talking Photo by An Pham Photo by An Pham

The reception gives us the chance to meet people who hosted the event and thank them for this experience Photo by An Pham

We’ll be asked to complete a Wings for Autism® / Wings for All® feedback formHow would you describe your family’s Wings for Autism/All experience? If the participant experienced challenges, how would you describe them? Based on your experience today, how would you describe the participant’s experience?Based on today’s experience, tell us about your future plans?What part of the event did the participant and your family you like the best? What changes would the participant and your family suggest?

And then we’ll be finished with our practiceGather our belongings and get ready to leave the airportWalk through the airport terminalFind our car, bus or train station, taxi stand or ferry terminalAnd go home Photo by An Pham

If we want we can share our picturesShare our photos with friends and familyHelp people that have never been to the airport or on a plane learn more about itFollow the social media guide instructions Photo by An Pham

And finally, we can discuss our experienceWhat did we like about the airport?What did we like about the airplane?Is there anything that made us feel uncomfortable? Is there anything we want to do the next time we’re at the airport and on an airplane? Photo by An Pham

The Wings for Autism® / Wings for All™ programs are funded in part by the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.Please contact The Arc to learn more about our Wings for Autism® and Wings for All® programs800.433.5255 Kerry Mauger mauger@thearc.org 202.534.3730 www.thearc.org/wingsforautism