Dozens of families registered for The Arc of Essex County and The Arc of New Jersey’s second “Wings for All” event at Newark Liberty Airport, which was held on Saturday, December 7. Families had an opportunity to go through a low-stakes visit to the airport in a “test run” that gave individuals with IDD the chance to run through the various stages of an airport trip and identify any pain points for families. The event was supported by United Airlines, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Transportation Security Administration, and Munich Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport.
From arriving at the airport through sitting on an actual aircraft and all of the steps in between, Wings for All is essentially a rehearsal for families that include children and adults with IDD. Parents and guardians had the chance to take their loved ones through the airport check-in and receive boarding passes, visit Terminal A’s Sensory Room, make their way through security, navigate the airport terminal, wait at the gate, board an aircraft, and find their seats. While on the plane, airline staff went through many of the same actions as they would during an actual flight, including the safety presentation and food and beverage service.
The aircraft did not leave the gate, but the experience allowed families to introduce their loved ones with IDD to the process and encounter the various stimuli at the airport. Participants were given green sunflower lanyards, which are a silent indicator to airport staff that the person wearing it might need more time because of a hidden disability. (Learn more about the sunflower program here.)
When the families disembarked the plane, they were able to fill plates with a full lunch buffet catered by Terminal A restaurants. Over food and drinks, parents shared stories, exchanged contact information with each other, and asked additional questions to the pilots, flight attendants, and United staff about the flying experience. They also repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the experience with their loved ones.
In a post-event survey, The Arc received numerous positive comments, with a 100% “Extremely Satisfied” rating of the event. “Every person we came in contact with was understanding, accommodating and very helpful. You can tell that every one of them wanted to be there,” said one parent. “We are so thankful to be included in this event. I was actually moved to tears a number of times that day.”
The Arc of Essex County is honored to have once again had the opportunity to help organize a Wings for All event for families at Newark Liberty Airport.
Wings for Autism® was created by Charles River Center, an affiliated chapter of The Arc, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Port Authority.