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Autistic children get the chance to try before they fly

BBC Janine and her daughter sat in the departure lounge of the airport. They both have blonde hair. Janine is wearing a blue denim jacket, and Abbie is wearing a cream hoodie and cream headphones. They are both smiling and looking at the cameraBBC
Janine McKinley and her daughter Abbie can now plan their holiday to Ibiza after a successful flight

Getting on a plane for many of us means one thing, it's holiday time.

However, for many families with autistic children, airports and flying are just not an option.

Airports and flying can be challenging for autistic people because of the many sensory differences, the unpredictability of how a day can unfold and also the sheer number of people that they are surrounded by.

On Saturday, 17 autistic youngsters and their parents were given the opportunity to be exposed to all the stress and unfamiliar noises that are part and parcel of air travel.

They all took part in Belfast City Airport's Autism in the Air scheme - and for the group the ‘try before you fly’ programme has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

Over the last 10 years, Belfast City Airport has been working with Queen's University Belfast and Aer Lingus Regional on a programme that helps families with autistic children.

The Autism in the Air programme brings families to the airport and helps them familiarise themselves with the hustle and bustle of the airport, security queues and the plane itself.

'A brilliant success'

Abbie and her mum, Janine McKinley, have a trip planned with the rest of the family next summer. Abbie will be finishing primary school and they plan to celebrate with their first trip away as a family.

After Saturday's flight, a summer holiday to Ibiza is now very much on the cards.

Abbie and her younger sister both managed to deal with checking in, the security queues and the noise of the flight really well.

She didn’t like looking out the window so much, but she concentrated on her colouring book and that kept her mind focused.

Janine says the flight was a brilliant success.

Next stop, Peppa Pig World

Thomas, who is has black hair and is wearing a turquoise polo shirt and a grey hoodie and is smiling at the camera, with Paula who is wearing a black T shirt and glasses. She is also smiling, they are standing in front of the baggage drop desk
Thomas and Paula McClinton have never experienced getting on a plane together before

For 19-year-old Thomas McClinton, it was the first time being on a plane.

The last time his mum Paula flew with her son, she was pregnant with Thomas.

Getting on the flight was a big deal for Thomas, because he has a plan and he wants to see it through.

Thomas is a massive Peppa Pig fan and collecting Peppa Pig paraphernalia is a big part of his life.

After feeling "really relaxed" during take off and enjoying "looking down at the clouds", Thomas is one step closer to his dream of travelling to Southampton to visit Peppa Pig World.

New opportunities

A young woman wearing a purple sweater, blue glasses and short hair is stood in an airport
Dr Nicola Booth hopes the scheme can help reduce the stress which is caused to young people with autism and their families when traveling by plane

Dr Nicola Booth is a senior lecturer of behaviour analysis at Queen's University Belfast, she says the flight is extremely important to all those involved.

“Families with autistic children tend to avoid places like airports and tend to avoid going on family holidays because the stress that it puts on the child and the families is just too much.”

The programme, she said, will hopefully reduce the stress as it will expose the child to an airport, a plane and a flight in a really safe manner. It will be controlled and more relaxed.

For the 17 young people who were on the flight, it has opened up new opportunities for both them and their families.

A man is stood in the airport wearing a black jacket with his arm around his son, who is also wearing black. They are looking directly at the camera.
Ryan described his time on the plane as being part of a day to remember

For nine-year-old Ryan Waring, his successful flight means the family will be going to Tenerife on holiday next year.

He loved every second of it and managed to film the take-off on his iPad to make sure he had something to remember the day by.

Belfast City Airport’s Chief People and Marketing Officer, Michelle Hatfield said the “real-life flight, and take-off experience and the landing experience would hopefully instil a lot more confidence both in the children and their families”.

With smiling faces all round as the group disembarked from the plane, it was clear the programme had achieved exactly what it had set out to do.