New Airport Accessibility Initiative to Improve Travel for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders

April 16, 2010 - PRLog -- CHICAGO – Officials at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport onttoday unveiled a new accessibility initiative designed to make traveling easier for persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and related disorders.  The initiative made its debut at a news conference that included Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, other city officials, and representatives of The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) and its network partners.

The initiative centers on the use of accessibility kits, which are available online at the web site http://accessibility.theautismprogram.org/.  The kits are designed to be downloaded prior to travel and can be tailored to the specific communication abilities and travel schedule of the person involved.  Copies of all materials may be printed to accompany the traveler on their journey.

“Standing here, among the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest airports in the world, we want to do all we can to assure that travel is safe, easy and understandable for all travelers, including those with an autism spectrum disorder or other related disorders,” said Dr. Joseph E. Nyre, president and CEO of The Hope Institute for Children and Families, one of the groups involved in the development of the accessibility kits.  “There are days when a place like O’Hare can become overwhelming for any of us who travel frequently.”

“Working together, the partners represented here today have developed a website where parents, caregivers and persons with disabilities can download personalized materials to prepare them for the travel experience,” Dr. Nyre said.  “These materials cover each step in the travel experience, from getting to the airport to obtaining tickets, checking baggage, passing through security, boarding your plane and traveling.”

“We believe that this approach to accessibility is the first of its kind to be available in any U.S. airport,” said Georgia Winson, chief administrator of The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP).  “We appreciate the work of Mayor Daley, the Chicago Department of Aviation, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and our TAP network partner, Have Dreams, in making this effort a reality.”

Based on figures developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 29,000 school-age children in Illinois have an autism spectrum disorder.  Common symptoms of an ASD may include difficulty communicating, understanding complex procedures, interacting with others, or following social cues, as well as sensitivity to light and/or sounds.  Accessibility materials are written in simplified language, with graphics to help users understand and properly sequence the wide variety of events involved in modern air travel.

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is the nation’s largest statewide autism services and resource network.  Administered by The Hope Institute for Children and Families, TAP has 12 regional centers across Illinois, and more than 30 partners, including universities and nonprofit organizations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Copies of an accessibility kit will be available at the news conference, or may be downloaded from the web site http://accessibility.theautismprogram.org/.

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The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is the nation’s largest statewide autism services and resource network. Administered by The Hope Institute for Children and Families, TAP has 12 regional centers across Illinois, and more than 30 partners, including universities and nonprofit organizations.