‘Test Run’ At Newark Airport Empowers Travelers With Disabilities

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Visiting an airport may seem “routine” to many travelers. But for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, the lights, sounds and crowds can make flying a stressful experience, advocates say.

Earlier this month, a group of 160 children and adults – accompanied by dozens of volunteers – got a chance to see what airport travel is all about at a simulated visit to Newark Airport in New Jersey.

Participants got a chance to go through a simulated security screening, make a terminal walkthrough and try out the boarding process. Families also had the opportunity to explore Terminal A’s sensory room, a calming space designed for neurodivergent travelers who need a respite from the often-stressful airport environment.

Hopefully, the trip helped to lift some of the anxiety that they might feel before getting on a plane for an actual flight, officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

The “Wings for All” program, founded by The Arc in 2014, isn’t just a chance to make Newark Airport more inclusive for passengers. It’s also a useful training tool for airport staff, giving them a way to practice assisting people with disabilities, Port Authority officials said.

This year’s event was organized in partnership with Livingston-based The Arc of Essex County and The Arc of New Jersey. Volunteers and staff from the Port Authority, United Airlines, and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also participated.

“For many, visiting the airport is a routine step in their journey,” explained Linda Lucas, CEO of The Arc of Essex County.

“For children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, however, the intense lights, loud sounds and bustling crowds can make the airport an intimidating and stressful place,” Lucas said.

“I know firsthand how important it is to create an environment that is welcoming and accommodating to everyone, especially families like mine who are traveling with an individual with IDD,” Port Authority vice chair Jeffrey Lynford agreed.

“This event helps ensure that we are doing everything we can to make air travel a positive experience for all families, regardless of their needs,” Lynford said.

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“Our ongoing collaboration with The Arc is essential in helping us better understand and meet the unique needs of individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Port Authority chair Kevin O’Toole said.

“We are committed to making travel through our airports as smooth and accessible as possible for everyone, and this partnership is a critical part of that effort,” O’Toole added.

Other recent Port Authority initiatives to foster inclusivity and accessibility include the creation of a second sensory room at Terminal A, relief areas for service animals, airport participation in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard program, and a nearly 30-year partnership with The Seeing Eye program, which trains puppies for future roles as guide dogs and trains airport staff to aid travelers.

More accessibility information for Port Authority facilities, including airports, is available here.

• See Related: See A Sunflower Lanyard At Newark Airport? Here’s What It Means
• See Related: 170 Puppies Train As Seeing Eye Dogs At Newark Airport (PHOTOS)
• See Related: New Jersey Makes Progress On Disability Access (8 Encouraging Stories)

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