Making Flying Accessible to All

Air travel is stressful enough, but it can be especially challenging for people with autism and other cognitive disabilities. They can struggle with disruptions in routine, waiting in line and the increased stimulation of a new environment.

To make flying more accessible for these travelers, Pittsburgh International Airport is building a sensory-friendly room that will provide a calming space for those who need to de-escalate before boarding a flight.

The idea for a sensory room came from an airport employee, Jason Rudge, whose 3-year-old son Presley has autism. When Presley was 2, he entered a preschool readiness program that had a sensory room.

“Presley struggled being in the classroom with the other kids, but the sensory room made it so much easier. He was able to calm down and go back into the playgroup,” said Rudge, a heavy equipment operator at PIT. “I didn’t think he’d be able to make it through the entire program, but that sensory room made all the difference.”

It occurred to Rudge that having a similar room at the airport would make it easier for families with autistic children to travel.

“A caregiver for a kid with autism might think ‘I’m never going to be able to fly anywhere with my family — it’s too hard to travel with someone with autism,’” he said. “Having a sensory room at the airport changes that thinking to ‘Maybe we can take that trip after all.’”

To develop the project, the airport brought together advocacy groups, individuals and caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental challenges, to share their experiences and offer suggestions for the sensory room.

The participants had a lot of ideas: Make it soundproof, serving both children and adults, with a variety of comfy seating and adjustable features to meet individuals’ various needs.

Amina Ammoura, whose family has a long history of working at the airport, participated in the sensory room discussions.  A mother of a 4-year-old son with autism, she was thrilled to h