TPA partners with nonprofit group to host “practice flight” for kids with autism

Mike and Katie Giroud love to travel but haven’t felt comfortable taking any plane trips since the birth of their son, Tyler. 

“We didn’t know how he would react to going on a plane,” said Katie Giroud of her 5-year-old son, who is non-verbal and has autism. “Being on a plane involves a lot of strangers, a lot of noises, and a lot of waiting.” 

While all of that might sound stressful to any parent traveling with children, for Tyler, those unfamiliar sounds and experiences can be excruciating.

“We have two other kids, and we love to take family vacations, but we just didn’t know if it was possible for us,” Katie explained.

That’s when Tyler’s dad discovered Wings for Autism, a program that helps kids with autism or other hidden disabilities experience a practice flight. Families go through the check-in process at the ticket counter, pass through TSA security, and then board a simulated flight. Even though the plane never takes off, the families have a chance to see how their child with autism reacts to the experience, while TSA and airline employees learn how to help families like Tyler’s navigate the process with special care.

Airports across the country have hosted similar events, but never at TPA. So, the Giroud family reached out to The Arc Tampa Bay, which helped organize the first-ever Wings for Autism event this past weekend in Tampa.

“It gave us the blueprint for what we need to successfully go on a flight with Tyler,” said Katie.

The Girouds weren’t alone. Another 50 families quickly signed up for the free event put on by The Arc of Tampa Bay, Southwest Airlines, and Tampa International Airport.

Sarah Hinson was among the parents who attended the event with her 7-year-old son, Hayes.

“There’s a lot of fear there,” said Hinson. “All of the fears of the unknown, the fears of not having an immediate exit route, being locked on a plane, and even worrying about how other people will react.”

She worried her son might become extremely upset, but she was pleasantly surprised by how Hayes handled the process.

“It just really gives us more confidence to fly and actually know that we can do it,” she said.

After boarding, the Southwest crew made announcements, closed the overhead bins, and even served snacks to help ensure the kids knew what to expect on their first real flight.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Sarah of her son. “Everyone we interacted with today was just above and beyond.”

Event organizer Brian Siracusa of The Arc Tampa Bay says the event is also a valuable experience for airport employees.

“They get to understand some of the unique challenges our individuals face on a daily basis,” Siracusa said. “It was a huge success.”

To prove it, he mentioned that many of the families who attended the event are already planning their first flights in years.

“My sister is getting married in Portland, Oregon, and Tyler is in the wedding,” said his mother, Katie. “It gave us the opportunity to identify where Tyler struggled so we can be best prepared for an actual flight.”

The Arc Tampa Bay is already looking forward to the possibility of organizing a future event at TPA.

For information on Wings for Autism or to receive alerts about future events near you, visit The Arc Wings for Autism website here.