Stedford adds that PIT’s safety officers recently received training to distinguish neurodivergent behavior from safety risks. “I worked with a local university to develop training modules to train our entire team on how to recognize and address someone with different needs,” she says.
Such needs may include stimming – or repetitive, self-stimulating behavior – such as hand flapping, tapping or rocking, clearing your throat, and various other movements or sounds. Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez, and autistic occupational therapist, says that all employees should be trained to recognize this behavior as a sign of overstimulation.
“Overstimulation occurs when the brain processes too much sensory information at once,” says Selvaggi Hernandez, which, if prolonged, can lead to heart attacks, strokes, self-harming behaviors, and other physical and mental health problems. She advises that stimming should be treated as a method of communication and not attempted to stop it. Effectively training airport security personnel to understand how this behavior might indicate a person’s needs is an important step in de-escalating potentially traumatic events. Active listening and clear communication when prompted to comply can greatly reduce the stress some neurodivergent travelers experience.
Pay attention to travel tips
Neurodiversity training with travel staff promotes better mentoring and understanding, but efforts shouldn’t end there. Selvaggi Henandez says creating new guidelines would help remove unnecessary barriers. “Sensory needs are real neurological needs,” she says. “I see an opportunity for big improvements in the move [toward] a support model. “
From ticketing challenges and confusing airline mobile apps to bag drop-off and security checks, navigating airports can be an overwhelming and time-consuming challenge for neurodivergent travelers. Unexpected events such as flight delays and overbooking cause additional disruption. If other passengers become tense during these frustrating situations, it can add another level of dysregulation for neurodivergent people, who are often very sensitive to other people’s emotions.
Before traveling, please contact the customer service teams of your chosen airline and travel destination with any questions or requests that could improve your experience. Consider reviewing and printing out relevant photos and instructions, role-playing interactions, and developing or practicing social scripts to familiarize yourself with typical local transit encounters.
People who have processing differences or who are overwhelmed by the noise and action of transportation hubs can bring note cards to communicate their support needs. Another option is to print out frequently used questions and answers when verbal interactions are difficult.
Although airport stressors can be overstimulating, exciting events or positive surprises can also lead to dysregulation – and travelers should plan how their bodies will react to these experiences, says Selvaggi Hernandez. She recommends packing a scarf that can meet a variety of needs: to create privacy, block odors or light, help control temperature, and apply gentle pressure when necessary.
Selvaggi Henandez adds that companies trying to cater to neurodivergent people should remember that while autistic people have a general diagnosis, each person’s individual needs will be different. One recently Article from National Geographic on how national parks can be more autism-friendly generated a lot of reader feedback, including from Lisa Kaufman, who writes: “I imagine an access concierge,” she says. “You could be a jack of all trades and understand a variety of situations that could benefit from a personalized approach.”
Stedford says Pittsburgh Airport relies on the input of an accessibility advisory group and consults universal design experts who encourage the company to work with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Doing things better for people with additional needs makes things better for everyone,” she says.
