Autism Fast Track - UK Manchester Airport

Post Reply New Topic

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ic-9584145

Ok, so this maybe aimed at Children, but as we know that is probably fairly erroneous and due to a misunderstanding of Autism. As we know those on the spectrum do not change/mature so much relative to our NT counterparts (I consider myself to have a very fixed "mental age" which is a fraction of my actual one!)

But anyhow, I feel if these kind of allowances are offered to those on the spectrum, I think we should all seize them. Some of us, even adults who are aspergers/higher functioning would definitely benefit in a confusing, intimidating and high jeopardy environment of an airport. Even for those of us who dont need it, using these services will help cement these allowances for Adult Autistic people who really do and find it difficult to ask for this kind of help.

I also know most UK Cinema's now do special cinema screenings for Autistic People where you are allowed to be noisy.

I've tried notifying the airlines that I've got ASD when buying tickets to the US, but their response has been unpredictable and doesn't seem to show much awareness of the right kind of adjustments. They didn't tell me in advance what they'd do for me. When I got there I couldn't get my ticket to print at the self-service machine, and when I asked them what was wrong, they said it hadn't printed because I'd been flagged up as disabled. They did it for me (which I didn't really want, I wanted to do it myself so I could get used to the airport procedures and get through quickly), then they told me I was too early to go to the gate, and should go away and come back in an hour or so. That stressed me out because it altered my plan, which had been to allow lots of extra time and go through the procedures myself. They also asked me if I needed a wheelchair, which reinforced my suspicion that they didn't know what they were doing. I said no, it's a cognitive disability.

I'd been hoping for a fast-track service or priority boarding or something. As it was, I just got worried that I wouldn't be able to find my way back later, they gave me somebody's name to remember and I was worried I'd forget that. When I turned up again at the agreed time, they got somebody to escort me to the gate and sit with me. It was completely unnecessary, I was quite capable of getting there by myself and had done so on my previous flight. There might have been some way of getting them to understand what I wanted, but like many ASDers, I have trouble self-advocating and couldn't get through to them.

I've seen people get through airports while blind drunk, so I doubt the average Aspie would have much trouble if they just went through under their own steam.

So in my experience, they don't know the first thing about ASD, and you're better off without them, though that doesn't mean that all airlines are that bad. Mine was American Airlines flying out from Heathrow in 2014.

I'd hate being in that special part of the cinema for autistic people. I want less noise, not more. Background noises upset me and I'm perfectly capable of keeping quiet myself.

Ah, I thought autism screenings were with the volume turned down and the lights not so far down, rather than being allowed to make noise.

I sometimes find cinemas a bit distressing but it would defeat the purpose if the other viewers were just as noisy.

Thanks for the responses, I really liked your description regarding "self advocating" - I may steal this.

As for the cinema, yes my mistake! I was thinking I would hate extra noise! lol