Autism and airports

[HennyPenny123]

My DD is 15. She is currently being assessed for autism. We are due to go on holiday soon. Last year at the airport she had a meltdown. This was because going through security the buzzer went. As her guardian, they asked me if it was ok to pat her down to search her. I said ok, not really thinking, but wasn't really sure what would happen if I refused. She felt absolutely humiliated, and I just felt awful for saying yes. Then to top it all, her bag had to be searched too as she had brought some perfume with her by mistake. She was absolutely sobbing by now, and the woman searching her bag was not at all helpful to the situation.

Any tips for airports. She hates to draw attention to herself so would refuse to wear any kind of lanyard. Can I refuse for her to be searched?

You can't refuse but you can prepare. This is what our airport does, www.dublinairport.com/blog/2019/06/26/helping-your-important-flyer-fly check yours.

Thanks for the tip @TheExistentialistCafé . I have now checked my local airport and looks like they just do the lanyards. I like the idea of the wrist band at your airport, that sounds much more discreet 😕

@HennyPenny123 Read your message with interest because we are taking our autistic DD away in the summer, first time to an airport in three years (first since being diagnosed). We've booked Ryanair and and booked their service where someone will escort us to the gate including through security. Don't know how this will work out in practice but worth a try. A friend used Jet2 last year and they were escorted through the airport much to their relief. Hope you get on OK.

I quite often end up wearing the lanyard... it still has the desired impact.

Request special assistance... we don't use the service to be escorted through, but do access the quiet security channel, skip queue at passport control, board first etc.

Find out what the process is at the airport the other end. UK airports are generally pretty good these days, and the sunflower lanyard is widely recognised. It is hugely variable in other countries.

You can request special assistance with your airline tell them what you need help with . Do this before you go so it’s all on file When you check in you go to special assistance they will give you a lanyard take you to security that sort of thing it will help .

Definitely get a lanyard, you can wear it if your dd won’t. We leave oodles (and I mean OODLES) of time at the airport, so we can literally be as slow as snails! Just take your time, don’t rush if you think you’re holding anyone up, just be calm and slow for your dd. I used to get flustered about what others may be thinking, but now all I think about is dd and what is best for her and her pace. Dd got drug wiped one year, I wasn’t allowed to stand with her or keep her calm, despite her wearing the lanyard - I was miffed about that but I could see it from their point of view, and I just cared for dd afterwards and we laughed about it when she was able. Try to get a good routine/plan of action at your UK (assuming here), as abroad it’s literally all out the window/anything goes/they have no helpful assistance at all ime 😡