Children with autism can be fast-tracked through security at Manchester Airport to make travelling easier for them and their families.
The airport launched the scheme after recognising that those with the condition can find it a ‘confusing and frightening experience’.
Parents can contact the airport ahead of their trip to get a booklet - specific to each terminal - and a video giving children a step-by-step guide of what they can expect.
Once families confirm to the airport that their child is on the autism spectrum they will be given a wristband to wear at the airport - which alerts staff and allows them to be fast-tracked through security.
Families with prams and pushchairs are already taken through the faster lane, but it is a perk that other passengers have to pay extra for.
Parents are asked to prove their child is on the spectrum and can do so via a disability living allowance letter, an occupational therapy report or a disability nurse report.
If someone was to turn up on the day without proof, airport staff still ‘try to help’, but warned against it and are doing what they can to ensure the system isn’t abused.
Parents can contact the airport ahead of their trip to get a booklet - specific to each terminal - and a video giving children a step-by-step guide of what they can expect.
Top comments
kidcat
5 Jul 1572#17
As a parent of two autistic boys I always carry the medical papers necessary, but to be honest in a busy airport, that's going to be loud etc the airport staff will be able to tell who the auties are without needing papers, the meltdown and anxiety will be obvious :smiley:
This is the sort of thing that makes our lives a little easier and gives us a chance of "normal" stuff that is usually so far out of reach. Hopefully more airports etc will follow soon, thank you OP for highlighting this
sickly sweet
5 Jul 1529#2
I think this is fantastic.
I hope this helps anyone with autistic children, and also autistic adults.
Making holidays more accessible and as unstressful as possible is fantastic.
Well done Manchester airport!!
mylittlesisterlola
6 Jul 1516#101
I've found this debate very interesting - it's surprising how many people feel ADHD doesn't exist and how many people feel that those with an invisible disability like autism should just suck it up.
My dad was recently diagnosed with ADHD by a brain specialist - it's not just naughty little boy syndrome as he'll be 60 on his next birthday - it's plagued him through his life, contributing to low self esteem and depression. How does it manifest itself on a man this age ? He has poor concentration, he seeks out danger in various forms and if I went into full detail of things he's done during the time I've known him your hair would curl just reading it. Did he go through the the process to get DLA ? No, he did it because he has tried to commit suicide twice last year and he wanted to get to the bottom of why he wasn't like 'normal' people. Is ADHD over diagnosed ? Probably, I would say like autism some day soon they will have to set a limit on how far up the spectrum you are before your diagnosed as we are all on the spectrum somewhere and it we all get diagnosed the people who are moderate to severe will miss out in help as all services will be oversubscribed.
As for autism, I have 2 boys on the spectrum, the oldest could queue without too much distress, his diagnosis is aspergers and he is on the mild/moderate side, is he running around feral, no he'll stand quietly, a little bit nervous and he'll shift from foot to foot as he finds standing still a challenge. My younger boys is 4, he finds it much more difficult, he didn't talk until he was almost 4, when he is excited or anxious he will check his knuckles until they are red raw, he still requires a buggy as he finds walking difficult - a place like the airport ( new, noise, bright etc ) will having him walking on his tiptoes and that makes him tired, even on a normal day he finds walking an effort and he cannot seems to simply walk, he jumps, skips, hops on one foot, this doesnt sound like a problem but can you imagine how tired you would get if you, jumped, ran, skipped and hopped everywhere you went ?
Will he be noisy ? While me and my husband will try to keep him calm and reassure him it is likely he will be noisier than an 'average' child, at home it's like his volume switch is stick on high, he is unable to whisper and finds it challenging to use an indoor voice - it's like he is totally unaware or unable to speak quietly.
I would use this service if it was available, if I was travelling with just the oldest I wouldn't feel the need.
To respond to the more controversial comments
Bruce - I can totally see what you mean, people think it's unthinkable to imagine that people seek out a diagnosis to get access to benefits, I think it is unthinkable that people would pretend they are from a broken relationship to get another social house so they can both claim they are single and maximise the benefits they get but unfortunately it happens daily. People would do anything for 'free money'
As for northerndave, I'm hoping your just a troll, trying to stoke up some hatred from hiding behind your keyboard. If this is a view that you would express in a crowded room full of actual, real people I fear that if we ever where to meet things might get unpleasant to say the least.
As for the other snobs who feel these feral children are ruining my holiday and imagine I actually paid to get fast track - all I can say is let's hope you are blessed with a child with autism or similar difficulties, perhaps it would give you a different outlook on life. If having more people fast tracked is such a massive Inconvience you feel the need to come on Internet boards and berate those living with an invisible disability all I can say is wow, you really are shallow.
And to all those others who have made abusive comments I would say would you say it in the real world, if not please don't say it here, behind our keyboard we are all real people, and it would seem quite a few here live with these trials every day - don't judge us and our children ( and fathers in my case ) until you've walked a mile in our shoes.
AFtwenty
5 Jul 1514#11
Cracking find and very hot. I work with autistic children and this sounds an extremely good idea, which I hope other airports copy.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Children with autism can be fast-tracked through security at Manchester Airport to make travelling easier for them and their families.
The airport launched the scheme after recognising that those with the condition can find it a ‘confusing and frightening experience’.
Parents can contact the airport ahead of their trip to get a booklet - specific to each terminal - and a video giving children a step-by-step guide of what they can expect.
Once families confirm to the airport that their child is on the autism spectrum they will be given a wristband to wear at the airport - which alerts staff and allows them to be fast-tracked through security.
Families with prams and pushchairs are already taken through the faster lane, but it is a perk that other passengers have to pay extra for.
Parents are asked to prove their child is on the spectrum and can do so via a disability living allowance letter, an occupational therapy report or a disability nurse report.
If someone was to turn up on the day without proof, airport staff still ‘try to help’, but warned against it and are doing what they can to ensure the system isn’t abused.
Parents can contact the airport ahead of their trip to get a booklet - specific to each terminal - and a video giving children a step-by-step guide of what they can expect.
Top comments
This is the sort of thing that makes our lives a little easier and gives us a chance of "normal" stuff that is usually so far out of reach. Hopefully more airports etc will follow soon, thank you OP for highlighting this
I hope this helps anyone with autistic children, and also autistic adults.
Making holidays more accessible and as unstressful as possible is fantastic.
Well done Manchester airport!!
My dad was recently diagnosed with ADHD by a brain specialist - it's not just naughty little boy syndrome as he'll be 60 on his next birthday - it's plagued him through his life, contributing to low self esteem and depression. How does it manifest itself on a man this age ? He has poor concentration, he seeks out danger in various forms and if I went into full detail of things he's done during the time I've known him your hair would curl just reading it. Did he go through the the process to get DLA ? No, he did it because he has tried to commit suicide twice last year and he wanted to get to the bottom of why he wasn't like 'normal' people. Is ADHD over diagnosed ? Probably, I would say like autism some day soon they will have to set a limit on how far up the spectrum you are before your diagnosed as we are all on the spectrum somewhere and it we all get diagnosed the people who are moderate to severe will miss out in help as all services will be oversubscribed.
As for autism, I have 2 boys on the spectrum, the oldest could queue without too much distress, his diagnosis is aspergers and he is on the mild/moderate side, is he running around feral, no he'll stand quietly, a little bit nervous and he'll shift from foot to foot as he finds standing still a challenge. My younger boys is 4, he finds it much more difficult, he didn't talk until he was almost 4, when he is excited or anxious he will check his knuckles until they are red raw, he still requires a buggy as he finds walking difficult - a place like the airport ( new, noise, bright etc ) will having him walking on his tiptoes and that makes him tired, even on a normal day he finds walking an effort and he cannot seems to simply walk, he jumps, skips, hops on one foot, this doesnt sound like a problem but can you imagine how tired you would get if you, jumped, ran, skipped and hopped everywhere you went ?
Will he be noisy ? While me and my husband will try to keep him calm and reassure him it is likely he will be noisier than an 'average' child, at home it's like his volume switch is stick on high, he is unable to whisper and finds it challenging to use an indoor voice - it's like he is totally unaware or unable to speak quietly.
I would use this service if it was available, if I was travelling with just the oldest I wouldn't feel the need.
To respond to the more controversial comments
Bruce - I can totally see what you mean, people think it's unthinkable to imagine that people seek out a diagnosis to get access to benefits, I think it is unthinkable that people would pretend they are from a broken relationship to get another social house so they can both claim they are single and maximise the benefits they get but unfortunately it happens daily. People would do anything for 'free money'
As for northerndave, I'm hoping your just a troll, trying to stoke up some hatred from hiding behind your keyboard. If this is a view that you would express in a crowded room full of actual, real people I fear that if we ever where to meet things might get unpleasant to say the least.
As for the other snobs who feel these feral children are ruining my holiday and imagine I actually paid to get fast track - all I can say is let's hope you are blessed with a child with autism or similar difficulties, perhaps it would give you a different outlook on life. If having more people fast tracked is such a massive Inconvience you feel the need to come on Internet boards and berate those living with an invisible disability all I can say is wow, you really are shallow.
And to all those others who have made abusive comments I would say would you say it in the real world, if not please don't say it here, behind our keyboard we are all real people, and it would seem quite a few here live with these trials every day - don't judge us and our children ( and fathers in my case ) until you've walked a mile in our shoes.
All comments (408)
TERMINAL 1
http://mag-umbraco-media-live.s3.amazonaws.com/1009/awarenessplusbookletplust2.pdf
TERMINAL 2
http://mag-umbraco-media-live.s3.amazonaws.com/1009/awarenessplusbookletplust2.pdf
TERMINAL 3
http://mag-umbraco-media-live.s3.amazonaws.com/1010/awarenessplusbookletplust3.pdf
I hope this helps anyone with autistic children, and also autistic adults.
Making holidays more accessible and as unstressful as possible is fantastic.
Well done Manchester airport!!
Read this at:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-airport-fast-track-families-autistic-9584145#rlabs=25
Nice to see you again Mark, what was it this time? Two months in the Bahamas? :smile: