This is why your channel is so important for raising awareness. As an architect, I'm very aware of how much space is dedicated to circulation (corridors) and waiting spaces. There is so much wasted space. It's so easy to partition off some small areas. If security is an issue, install some hidden surveillance camera. Try and describe exactly what the space needs Off the top of my head I can think of the quiet spaces need to be near various departure lounges, and have a toilet, window to the outside, sound isolation from public announcements, acoustic absorption, comfortable furniture, a bed, non glairy lighting that can be controlled by the users, nuetral colour scheme, WiFi and phone recharge connection, screen saying plane departures that can be covered up with a door or that can be seen through a small window in the door. This small window is also allows one to see whether the room is being used.... Architects involved with airport renovations need specific requirements. You could help establish the design criteria.
I've only flown once with my kids and that was when we moved last year. It was definitely one of the most stressful experiences. I didn't have my lanyard yet but my son was in his special needs stroller and security offered us to skip ahead in line, which I was so thankful for! The flight itself was a nightmare. My son didn't want to stay seated and had several meltdowns with headbanging in his seat which was stressful and embarrassing. I know some airports are trying more inclusive practices, which I appreciate, but I agree it has to be practical and useful and not just for show.
I’ve had the privilege of using the first class lounge and it’s exactly the designed to be a place for people to relax and decompress. Maybe there needs to be some switch that doesn’t just take care of the upper classes’ preferences and includes the marginalized people who have special needs! It would be a two for one on the airports.
It still costs money, but those lounges do have day passes and they’re starting to introduce these independently-owned lounges with cheaper day rates. The first-class lounge day rates are normally like $40-$50 a person, but tbh it’s totally worth it if you’re trapped for a really long time. Cheaper than a hotel room and food is free Still not the best option, but not sure too many people know about the day rate options!
It has just been in the last few months that I have realized that it is my autism that makes flying so uncomfortable for me. They just aren't designed for Autistic people. The odd thing is that I have always had help, but not from airport staff, but frequent flyers who help me navigate the airport, have stopped helping me with broken handles on carry-ons and simply managing the airport and airplane experience. My hyper senses go into overload just getting to the airport. Then when I got there all the people were going in 15 directions, lacking clear markings for where I needed to go. Security is so overwhelming and because it is so overwhelming for me. I end up getting searched extra times which is even more overwhelming. Then because of my nervousness I can end up getting security searched up to 3 times on a single flight, and then again at the next airport. Then the fluorescent lights, flickering lights, noises, extra unfamiliar noises, crowded seating areas at the gates. Changing the gates before flights so I then have to go to another gate. Once I am on the plane I am crammed in with strangers. There are feels and noises that no one else seems to feel or hear. Air travel is not fun for me at all. I still do it, but it causes me anxiety. My kids are grown, and I live alone, so I am always navigating this stuff by myself to top it off.
Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I don’t fly much, but it very stressful when I do. For the plane: I buy tickets that allow me to board the plane first so I can settle in before everyone else gets there. I always take a window seat to avoid people in the aisle. I wear my husbands noise canceling headphones to help block the sounds and the stranger next to me that wants to chat. In the terminal: The confusion to get around an unfamiliar airport is mortifying to me. I traveled alone a few years back. The anxiety and stress, even in just trying to find someone to help me, brought on a meltdown. That airport has trams inside and if you get on the wrong tram, it can cause you to be late just trying to get yourself to the right terminal. When I got off, the signage was so unclear and the area was so empty (no employees or info kiosks) that I couldn’t tell if I was in the right terminal…until I finally found an employee to ask.
I feel your stress, Orion. I'm genuinely sorry that your time away was so tough. - many of us can relate. It sounds like the airport went through a tick-box exercise, but put the box and the tick in the wrong places. Hats off to Quantas. We need legislation to force airports to accommodate autistic people, with proper training for staff - we need it now.
So sorry you and the family went through this experience. I hate airports and find them daunting at the best of times. I also agree with all your points about airports and their inability to follow through on commitments made to their customers, autistic or allistic. The only caveat I would make is that airports (in fact all aspects of air travel) are going through staffing shortages (for many reasons too innumerable to list here) and that this is everywhere - I live in EU and have family in other parts of EU, US and UK all complaining about airports and airlines services. But that doesn't excuse them claiming to provide these services when clearly unable to, possibly for the kudos it would bring them.
You are correct about the current state of affairs, but at least in the U.S. where I’ve lived or travelled, this has been the case at every airport I’ve flown from/to/through for the last 20+ years. So it’s accurate that the staffing shortages and crazy customers are a huge contributor to the problems today - they’re not unique to nor isolated to today in my experience. And I don’t travel a whole lot, so it is entirely possible that my experiences aren’t representative, and it is also entirely likely that it’s unique to the U.S. Caveat emptor, on those points. Just offering an additional perspective to the mix for context.
@@babybirdhome Thank you for the perspective - agree with you wholeheartedly. I have also travelled on domestic US flights for 20+ years (occasionally) as have close family living in separate parts of US, so a trip to see family and friends often included internal US flights as well as transatlantic ones at either end. My experiences were both good and bad - and have trips further abroad to compare them with. Still, some of the oddest and upsetting experiences I had were with US domestic flights. One experience that I recall was using Klamath airport in Oregon. Had been to tiny airports in Africa and Asia in the past and so knew what they were like - usually I quite enjoyed the lack of formality and crowds, and had often loaded my own luggage onto the plane. Got to airport - all good - on a flight that had less than 30 people on a small plane. But the TSA pulled a woman in her 80's to do the mandatory bag check. The poor woman was clearly confused, distressed and travelling alone and so had no one to help explain what was going on. It was traumatising to watch, unable (due to my own anxieties) to help. I understand why the TSA had to do this (was just post 9-11), but still... The memory remains to this day.
This is such a well said, sensitive perspective on a really important issue- in other fields too, like education- policy vs practice. Thank you for this!
I never really liked being on holiday, mainly because I have nothing to do, I can't bring all my stuff with me and I just find it boring. We haven't been on holiday for a long time now. One time dad, mum and I went to Spain. Some people would love that but I HATED it, there was nothing for me to DO and I was just so BORED, I just wanted to go home so bad.
i hate traveling. my father drives the car but its still to much for me. I prefer staying home, being on the balcony. perfect life 😂 wow, that really makes no sense on this airport. but this woman was very nice. All people should be like this.
I'm flying for the first time since Covid from Perth to Sydney and I'm so stressed about it. I hate flying, I hate the noise and the smell and ugh, I wish I could just teleport to go see my family.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I can absolutely understand how stressful that was. I'm from the US and we live in the US, but my husband is from Holland, so over the years we've had to fly quite a bit. Our 10yo and I are autistic, but only very recently diagnosed. Traveling has always been a challenge for me because I hate flying and airports, but our 10yo loves them. Also, for whatever reason--bad luck, I guess--I get flagged for extra security checks fairly often when I travel with my family. It's always awful. I understand sticking with it because you want to give the kids experiences and I'm glad yours had fun on your holiday! We were all (me, my husband, 10yo & 13yo) supposed to go on a trip next week across state, which is a 5-6 hour drive, to see a concert that was rescheduled from a year ago. I was feeling very stressed about it all last week, like REALLY stressed, and I was still able to cancel the hotel and sell the tickets, so I did, and I was and still am so relieved! The kids had forgotten we were even supposed to go, so they weren't disappointed. But then we decided that later this year we'll go to DisneyWorld because I saw Taylor's (Mom on the Spectrum) video about getting a DAS Pass at Disney, and I think we'll be able to manage if we have that. And 10yo is excited about flying again.
I agree that the sensory friendly space needs to be in the gate area. The prayer room/chapel should also be within the gate area. Passengers can’t go back through security to access those spaces. I was a flight attendant for 9 years and I’ve seen many airports. The amount of noise from blaring tvs and loudspeakers is very bad. Probably contributes to the angry passengers throwing fits. How about Zen airports with calm quiet space for everyone?
Delay after we boarded the plane with one ADHD teen and one autistic teen and an autistic mom. And it's the first time the autistic teen has flown. And the ADHD teen has taken up vaping behind Mom's back, and so is cranky without a nicotine fix. I vowed then to never take them on a plane again. Meltdown, shutdown, everything was going down-down. I'm still not sure how we survived. If I was a drinker, that'd be the time.
Have any of these people actually used an airport before...a sensory room only at check in ...dumbest thing I've heard. They need a room at both ends of airport...what are the standards they have to meet to be in the program?I'm so glad you met Verity 💜 and nice one Quintas 👍
@@orionkelly I can't express it big enough please know what you do is amazing spectacular life saving...you shine 🌟 my friend love to you all and all in AUS 💜💯🖖
Last time I flew was in 2019 and before I knew about the hidden disabilities program (and pre diagnosis). I hadn't flown for a while so was stressed out turning up and find that it was all now self check-in and working out printing your luggage tags and getting to one of the conveyers etc instead of just lining up - while I was dealing with that a carryon bag dropped off my shoulder and spilt a drink through the bag and leaking out so verge of meltdown. Got through all of that and then you head for security, you turn a corner and suddenly you are in the line and have to know/remember all the things that have to come out of your bag to go into the tubs but there isn't anywhere to do it besides holding up the line, that was a meltdown especially as I set the alarm off so had to go through again and then had 2 different people telling me different things and the main one extremely obvious that he didn't recognise the signs of a meltdown. I went to the Gold Coast Dec 2020 and rode from Sydney (motorbike) cause I didn't want to go through that again as I realised that security would be worse with everyone being more anxious (also had troubles with masks quite often so didn't want to worry about having an anxiety attack). Def not in a hurry to fly again.
Sorry you all had to go through this, Orion. I've worked for organisations in the past that apply for quality marks and sometimes it seems like it's just a box ticking exercise for them to attract new clients or funding. You're absolutely right when you say it has to mean more than that. I guess if the quality mark scheme creators were better resourced there would be some kind of follow-up to ensure the provisions identified within a scheme were being successfully implemented and trouble-shooting any issues/ reworking the provision accordingly. Good video and very well said.
As a person who is not only on the spectrum (formerly Asperger's syndrome- thanks DSM5, I hate you) but also have several severe chronic pain and have to wear crap tons of metal if I want to safely walk I do a few things. To start with- my carry-on bag. It has my rigid cervical collar that I use to sleep comfortably anywhere sitting up as it can literally take the weight of my head off of my neck, secured around a handle on my bag. I pack my more rapid acting (aka- most needed) meds in an outside pocket of the bag. This includes at least one vial of insulin that I have used gauze and tape along with fabric and thread to make a padded pocket sort of bag with enough room to get the insulin syringe through but the opening for the insulin syringe but not enough that any part of the vial is exposed, insulin syringes for the insulin, (at least at the time of my last flight) my pain meds, muscle relaxers and benzos along with my blood sugar meter. This is all further secured in the pocket of the bag by a clear zip lock bag. On the inside of the bag is my phone charger (phone is worn around my neck on a lanyard), my longer to kick in meds and my cpap machine, it's tubing and mask, power cord and what is apparently the saving grace to many other travelers- an extension cord, adapter to plug my six plug strip into the extension cord and my six plug strip. (Yes, I "make friends" with other people whose ulterior motive is to be able to charge their shit while someone--> me, watches it and to trade off they will typically offer to get me a bottle of soda and a kit kat as the two are fairly affordable still.) This bag is able to be packed up in minutes as I keep all of it together in my room anyway. 2 days before flying (out and back)- I call the airline and request a wheelchair to be available for me to get around the airport in and with when not with the attendant. This makes getting through security easier for me. I also reach out to the transportation security agency (yes, I live in the USA and we have TSA) to request that I get assistance in getting my shit through the scanner and me to a private room with two female agents so I can do a strip search. Yes, I know, it's strange. But I'd rather be partially clothingless for a few seconds than having someone touching me and causing pain as I am not able to safely walk without leg braces that have a lot of metal so can't go through any scanner or be effectively wanded as the metal on the braces would sound the alarm on the wand. At the airport- I force the check in employees to service me and when asked why I simply inform them that I am easily stressed out by the self check in kiosks and would rather have an airline check in agent do it for me as well as informing them that I have requested a wheelchair due to walking issues. They can also deal with my checked baggage. Once at security I notify the TSA agent that I request assistance with getting my stuff through the x-ray scanner as well as informing them that I have requested to be strip searched (this always gets a double take from the agent but I inform them that I have severe chronic pain and would rather suffer through a few seconds of being partially clothingless than suffer with a pain flare which always gets something along the lines of "you do you" while looking at me like I have lost my mind). Once passed security I have the wheelchair attendant wheel me to my chosen option for food to get and then to the gate that I will depart from leaving the wheelchair with me should I need the bathroom or want to walk a bit. At layovers- I either am met by a wheelchair attendant at the plane or I go to the gate agent and they will snag a wheelchair attendant for me. At final destination airport I will again seek a wheelchair attendant to bring me to baggage claim to retrieve my checked bag and then outside for me to be picked up by family. So, in short, I have my ways that I know work for me each and every time I have flown since I developed the several severe chronic pain conditions that has limited my tolerance to walking for more than 5 minutes without the pain nagging on my body.
I feel like the only way to survive a holiday with my neurotypical partner is to just mask the whole time. It's exhausting but seems to be the only way to get through it and not ruin it for him :-/
Thank you for pointing this bad design out, have you made a formal written complaint to Gold Coast Airport about this issue so that changes can be made?
I turn into a controlling monster getting the kids through the airport processes. I now pay for priority processing to avoid causing myself a meltdown.
Holiday suggestion for next time: instead of spending money to go away, pay for entertainment to come to you eg get a house cleaner in to spruce the house, have a chef in to make your family an amazing meal, hire a kids party entertainer or magician - bring the holiday fun to you in the comfort of your own space 😉😊
I’m sorry you and your family had to experience this. My sarcastic side wants to say, “no, you absolutely weren’t discriminated against, the employees treated you just like everyone else.” 🤦🏼♀️ I’ve not seen a program like this in our airports (USA), but I also don’t fly a lot. My husband handles flying a lot like your autistic one. Ok, he doesn’t act out; he quickly shuts down and followed by being completely frustrated/angry. He gets so incredibly stressed at airports (or around people in general) that he quickly passes the point of no return so quickly that I would love nothing more than having a quiet space for him. I’m more controlled with my melt downs and, like you, I’ll ask for help, at least until the point passes where I’m stressed beyond even thinking clearly. That happens more often in a very crowded airport. If it’s not so crowded, I can handle myself. I’m glad you found such a wonderful employee to help you. That made me feel very good for you. I hope we can be so lucky the next time traveling.
How bloody stupid! Whose idea was that! Well done Qantas though! This was always the worry, NTs mostly just don't give a shit. I'm afraid this should have been checked by Aspect.
Have you tried earbuds/headphones for your son? My daughter has one wireless earbud in her ear at nearly all times (including during Driver’s Ed-she put it in the ear opposite the instructor, yikes!).
I've always thought the sunflower lanyard is more of a signifier of not wearing a mask because of autism, not so much about extra care? Maybe it's different in Aus, but that seems to be the case in the UK! x
As a mom suspecting that I’m on the spectrum, pointed out by a few providers …. One does not take a vacation/ holiday with children. We go on a trip. With all of the usual stresses but add an intense layer of stress in an unfamiliar environment lol proud of you 👍 y’all made it in one piece keep on keepin on.
This is why your channel is so important for raising awareness. As an architect, I'm very aware of how much space is dedicated to circulation (corridors) and waiting spaces. There is so much wasted space. It's so easy to partition off some small areas. If security is an issue, install some hidden surveillance camera. Try and describe exactly what the space needs Off the top of my head I can think of the quiet spaces need to be near various departure lounges, and have a toilet, window to the outside, sound isolation from public announcements, acoustic absorption, comfortable furniture, a bed, non glairy lighting that can be controlled by the users, nuetral colour scheme, WiFi and phone recharge connection, screen saying plane departures that can be covered up with a door or that can be seen through a small window in the door. This small window is also allows one to see whether the room is being used.... Architects involved with airport renovations need specific requirements. You could help establish the design criteria.
I've only flown once with my kids and that was when we moved last year. It was definitely one of the most stressful experiences. I didn't have my lanyard yet but my son was in his special needs stroller and security offered us to skip ahead in line, which I was so thankful for! The flight itself was a nightmare. My son didn't want to stay seated and had several meltdowns with headbanging in his seat which was stressful and embarrassing. I know some airports are trying more inclusive practices, which I appreciate, but I agree it has to be practical and useful and not just for show.
💯 our flights were just like yours.
I’ve had the privilege of using the first class lounge and it’s exactly the designed to be a place for people to relax and decompress. Maybe there needs to be some switch that doesn’t just take care of the upper classes’ preferences and includes the marginalized people who have special needs! It would be a two for one on the airports.
It still costs money, but those lounges do have day passes and they’re starting to introduce these independently-owned lounges with cheaper day rates.
The first-class lounge day rates are normally like $40-$50 a person, but tbh it’s totally worth it if you’re trapped for a really long time. Cheaper than a hotel room and food is free
Still not the best option, but not sure too many people know about the day rate options!
It has just been in the last few months that I have realized that it is my autism that makes flying so uncomfortable for me. They just aren't designed for Autistic people. The odd thing is that I have always had help, but not from airport staff, but frequent flyers who help me navigate the airport, have stopped helping me with broken handles on carry-ons and simply managing the airport and airplane experience. My hyper senses go into overload just getting to the airport. Then when I got there all the people were going in 15 directions, lacking clear markings for where I needed to go. Security is so overwhelming and because it is so overwhelming for me. I end up getting searched extra times which is even more overwhelming. Then because of my nervousness I can end up getting security searched up to 3 times on a single flight, and then again at the next airport. Then the fluorescent lights, flickering lights, noises, extra unfamiliar noises, crowded seating areas at the gates. Changing the gates before flights so I then have to go to another gate.
Once I am on the plane I am crammed in with strangers. There are feels and noises that no one else seems to feel or hear. Air travel is not fun for me at all. I still do it, but it causes me anxiety. My kids are grown, and I live alone, so I am always navigating this stuff by myself to top it off.
Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I don’t fly much, but it very stressful when I do.
For the plane: I buy tickets that allow me to board the plane first so I can settle in before everyone else gets there. I always take a window seat to avoid people in the aisle. I wear my husbands noise canceling headphones to help block the sounds and the stranger next to me that wants to chat.
In the terminal: The confusion to get around an unfamiliar airport is mortifying to me. I traveled alone a few years back. The anxiety and stress, even in just trying to find someone to help me, brought on a meltdown. That airport has trams inside and if you get on the wrong tram, it can cause you to be late just trying to get yourself to the right terminal. When I got off, the signage was so unclear and the area was so empty (no employees or info kiosks) that I couldn’t tell if I was in the right terminal…until I finally found an employee to ask.
I feel your stress, Orion. I'm genuinely sorry that your time away was so tough. - many of us can relate. It sounds like the airport went through a tick-box exercise, but put the box and the tick in the wrong places. Hats off to Quantas. We need legislation to force airports to accommodate autistic people, with proper training for staff - we need it now.
Agreed mate.
What you described is essentially having everything that is wheelchair accessible on the top floor of a building.
So sorry you and the family went through this experience. I hate airports and find them daunting at the best of times. I also agree with all your points about airports and their inability to follow through on commitments made to their customers, autistic or allistic.
The only caveat I would make is that airports (in fact all aspects of air travel) are going through staffing shortages (for many reasons too innumerable to list here) and that this is everywhere - I live in EU and have family in other parts of EU, US and UK all complaining about airports and airlines services.
But that doesn't excuse them claiming to provide these services when clearly unable to, possibly for the kudos it would bring them.
You are correct about the current state of affairs, but at least in the U.S. where I’ve lived or travelled, this has been the case at every airport I’ve flown from/to/through for the last 20+ years. So it’s accurate that the staffing shortages and crazy customers are a huge contributor to the problems today - they’re not unique to nor isolated to today in my experience. And I don’t travel a whole lot, so it is entirely possible that my experiences aren’t representative, and it is also entirely likely that it’s unique to the U.S. Caveat emptor, on those points. Just offering an additional perspective to the mix for context.
@@babybirdhome Thank you for the perspective - agree with you wholeheartedly. I have also travelled on domestic US flights for 20+ years (occasionally) as have close family living in separate parts of US, so a trip to see family and friends often included internal US flights as well as transatlantic ones at either end. My experiences were both good and bad - and have trips further abroad to compare them with. Still, some of the oddest and upsetting experiences I had were with US domestic flights.
One experience that I recall was using Klamath airport in Oregon. Had been to tiny airports in Africa and Asia in the past and so knew what they were like - usually I quite enjoyed the lack of formality and crowds, and had often loaded my own luggage onto the plane. Got to airport - all good - on a flight that had less than 30 people on a small plane. But the TSA pulled a woman in her 80's to do the mandatory bag check. The poor woman was clearly confused, distressed and travelling alone and so had no one to help explain what was going on. It was traumatising to watch, unable (due to my own anxieties) to help.
I understand why the TSA had to do this (was just post 9-11), but still...
The memory remains to this day.
This is such a well said, sensitive perspective on a really important issue- in other fields too, like education- policy vs practice. Thank you for this!
I never really liked being on holiday, mainly because I have nothing to do, I can't bring all my stuff with me and I just find it boring. We haven't been on holiday for a long time now. One time dad, mum and I went to Spain. Some people would love that but I HATED it, there was nothing for me to DO and I was just so BORED, I just wanted to go home so bad.
i hate traveling. my father drives the car but its still to much for me. I prefer staying home, being on the balcony. perfect life 😂 wow, that really makes no sense on this airport. but this woman was very nice. All people should be like this.
I'm flying for the first time since Covid from Perth to Sydney and I'm so stressed about it. I hate flying, I hate the noise and the smell and ugh, I wish I could just teleport to go see my family.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I can absolutely understand how stressful that was. I'm from the US and we live in the US, but my husband is from Holland, so over the years we've had to fly quite a bit. Our 10yo and I are autistic, but only very recently diagnosed. Traveling has always been a challenge for me because I hate flying and airports, but our 10yo loves them. Also, for whatever reason--bad luck, I guess--I get flagged for extra security checks fairly often when I travel with my family. It's always awful.
I understand sticking with it because you want to give the kids experiences and I'm glad yours had fun on your holiday!
We were all (me, my husband, 10yo & 13yo) supposed to go on a trip next week across state, which is a 5-6 hour drive, to see a concert that was rescheduled from a year ago. I was feeling very stressed about it all last week, like REALLY stressed, and I was still able to cancel the hotel and sell the tickets, so I did, and I was and still am so relieved! The kids had forgotten we were even supposed to go, so they weren't disappointed.
But then we decided that later this year we'll go to DisneyWorld because I saw Taylor's (Mom on the Spectrum) video about getting a DAS Pass at Disney, and I think we'll be able to manage if we have that. And 10yo is excited about flying again.
I agree with that we do need to do better.😊.
I agree that the sensory friendly space needs to be in the gate area. The prayer room/chapel should also be within the gate area. Passengers can’t go back through security to access those spaces. I was a flight attendant for 9 years and I’ve seen many airports. The amount of noise from blaring tvs and loudspeakers is very bad. Probably contributes to the angry passengers throwing fits. How about Zen airports with calm quiet space for everyone?
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I appreciate it Nancy.
Delay after we boarded the plane with one ADHD teen and one autistic teen and an autistic mom. And it's the first time the autistic teen has flown. And the ADHD teen has taken up vaping behind Mom's back, and so is cranky without a nicotine fix. I vowed then to never take them on a plane again. Meltdown, shutdown, everything was going down-down. I'm still not sure how we survived. If I was a drinker, that'd be the time.
Have any of these people actually used an airport before...a sensory room only at check in ...dumbest thing I've heard. They need a room at both ends of airport...what are the standards they have to meet to be in the program?I'm so glad you met Verity 💜 and nice one Quintas 👍
💯
@@orionkelly I can't express it big enough please know what you do is amazing spectacular life saving...you shine 🌟 my friend love to you all and all in AUS 💜💯🖖
@@chairninja thanks so much.
Last time I flew was in 2019 and before I knew about the hidden disabilities program (and pre diagnosis). I hadn't flown for a while so was stressed out turning up and find that it was all now self check-in and working out printing your luggage tags and getting to one of the conveyers etc instead of just lining up - while I was dealing with that a carryon bag dropped off my shoulder and spilt a drink through the bag and leaking out so verge of meltdown. Got through all of that and then you head for security, you turn a corner and suddenly you are in the line and have to know/remember all the things that have to come out of your bag to go into the tubs but there isn't anywhere to do it besides holding up the line, that was a meltdown especially as I set the alarm off so had to go through again and then had 2 different people telling me different things and the main one extremely obvious that he didn't recognise the signs of a meltdown.
I went to the Gold Coast Dec 2020 and rode from Sydney (motorbike) cause I didn't want to go through that again as I realised that security would be worse with everyone being more anxious (also had troubles with masks quite often so didn't want to worry about having an anxiety attack). Def not in a hurry to fly again.
It's awesome that you speak out about this to me it's all common sense 💕
Thanks Dawn.
Sorry you all had to go through this, Orion. I've worked for organisations in the past that apply for quality marks and sometimes it seems like it's just a box ticking exercise for them to attract new clients or funding. You're absolutely right when you say it has to mean more than that. I guess if the quality mark scheme creators were better resourced there would be some kind of follow-up to ensure the provisions identified within a scheme were being successfully implemented and trouble-shooting any issues/ reworking the provision accordingly. Good video and very well said.
I’m grateful to hear that. Thanks!
These are all so valid. Write letters to the airport!
As a person who is not only on the spectrum (formerly Asperger's syndrome- thanks DSM5, I hate you) but also have several severe chronic pain and have to wear crap tons of metal if I want to safely walk I do a few things.
To start with- my carry-on bag. It has my rigid cervical collar that I use to sleep comfortably anywhere sitting up as it can literally take the weight of my head off of my neck, secured around a handle on my bag. I pack my more rapid acting (aka- most needed) meds in an outside pocket of the bag. This includes at least one vial of insulin that I have used gauze and tape along with fabric and thread to make a padded pocket sort of bag with enough room to get the insulin syringe through but the opening for the insulin syringe but not enough that any part of the vial is exposed, insulin syringes for the insulin, (at least at the time of my last flight) my pain meds, muscle relaxers and benzos along with my blood sugar meter. This is all further secured in the pocket of the bag by a clear zip lock bag. On the inside of the bag is my phone charger (phone is worn around my neck on a lanyard), my longer to kick in meds and my cpap machine, it's tubing and mask, power cord and what is apparently the saving grace to many other travelers- an extension cord, adapter to plug my six plug strip into the extension cord and my six plug strip. (Yes, I "make friends" with other people whose ulterior motive is to be able to charge their shit while someone--> me, watches it and to trade off they will typically offer to get me a bottle of soda and a kit kat as the two are fairly affordable still.) This bag is able to be packed up in minutes as I keep all of it together in my room anyway.
2 days before flying (out and back)- I call the airline and request a wheelchair to be available for me to get around the airport in and with when not with the attendant. This makes getting through security easier for me. I also reach out to the transportation security agency (yes, I live in the USA and we have TSA) to request that I get assistance in getting my shit through the scanner and me to a private room with two female agents so I can do a strip search. Yes, I know, it's strange. But I'd rather be partially clothingless for a few seconds than having someone touching me and causing pain as I am not able to safely walk without leg braces that have a lot of metal so can't go through any scanner or be effectively wanded as the metal on the braces would sound the alarm on the wand.
At the airport- I force the check in employees to service me and when asked why I simply inform them that I am easily stressed out by the self check in kiosks and would rather have an airline check in agent do it for me as well as informing them that I have requested a wheelchair due to walking issues. They can also deal with my checked baggage. Once at security I notify the TSA agent that I request assistance with getting my stuff through the x-ray scanner as well as informing them that I have requested to be strip searched (this always gets a double take from the agent but I inform them that I have severe chronic pain and would rather suffer through a few seconds of being partially clothingless than suffer with a pain flare which always gets something along the lines of "you do you" while looking at me like I have lost my mind). Once passed security I have the wheelchair attendant wheel me to my chosen option for food to get and then to the gate that I will depart from leaving the wheelchair with me should I need the bathroom or want to walk a bit.
At layovers- I either am met by a wheelchair attendant at the plane or I go to the gate agent and they will snag a wheelchair attendant for me.
At final destination airport I will again seek a wheelchair attendant to bring me to baggage claim to retrieve my checked bag and then outside for me to be picked up by family.
So, in short, I have my ways that I know work for me each and every time I have flown since I developed the several severe chronic pain conditions that has limited my tolerance to walking for more than 5 minutes without the pain nagging on my body.
I couldn't even imagine. The grocery store is hell 😩.
I feel like the only way to survive a holiday with my neurotypical partner is to just mask the whole time. It's exhausting but seems to be the only way to get through it and not ruin it for him :-/
Thank you for pointing this bad design out, have you made a formal written complaint to Gold Coast Airport about this issue so that changes can be made?
This is all so sad. Good employee though. Hope the airport sees this and make some actual changes !
I turn into a controlling monster getting the kids through the airport processes. I now pay for priority processing to avoid causing myself a meltdown.
I worked in Briz airport for 15 years. Never heard about the hidden disability sunflower. Great idea tho.
Holiday suggestion for next time: instead of spending money to go away, pay for entertainment to come to you eg get a house cleaner in to spruce the house, have a chef in to make your family an amazing meal, hire a kids party entertainer or magician - bring the holiday fun to you in the comfort of your own space 😉😊
I’m sorry you and your family had to experience this. My sarcastic side wants to say, “no, you absolutely weren’t discriminated against, the employees treated you just like everyone else.” 🤦🏼♀️
I’ve not seen a program like this in our airports (USA), but I also don’t fly a lot. My husband handles flying a lot like your autistic one. Ok, he doesn’t act out; he quickly shuts down and followed by being completely frustrated/angry. He gets so incredibly stressed at airports (or around people in general) that he quickly passes the point of no return so quickly that I would love nothing more than having a quiet space for him. I’m more controlled with my melt downs and, like you, I’ll ask for help, at least until the point passes where I’m stressed beyond even thinking clearly. That happens more often in a very crowded airport. If it’s not so crowded, I can handle myself. I’m glad you found such a wonderful employee to help you. That made me feel very good for you. I hope we can be so lucky the next time traveling.
I feel you, man 😍
What a strange place to have a sensory room.
How bloody stupid! Whose idea was that! Well done Qantas though! This was always the worry, NTs mostly just don't give a shit. I'm afraid this should have been checked by Aspect.
Sounds like they just needed to rebrand the prayer room, lol.
Yep.
Have you tried earbuds/headphones for your son? My daughter has one wireless earbud in her ear at nearly all times (including during Driver’s Ed-she put it in the ear opposite the instructor, yikes!).
I've always thought the sunflower lanyard is more of a signifier of not wearing a mask because of autism, not so much about extra care? Maybe it's different in Aus, but that seems to be the case in the UK! x
Xdddddd
Same shit...different location. Why bother.
As a mom suspecting that I’m on the spectrum, pointed out by a few providers …. One does not take a vacation/ holiday with children. We go on a trip. With all of the usual stresses but add an intense layer of stress in an unfamiliar environment lol proud of you 👍 y’all made it in one piece keep on keepin on.