Airport volunteers help Calgary families with autistic children with air travel

The departures terminal at YYC Calgary International was awash in red hats Wednesday night as volunteers looked to familiarize autistic children with air travel.

The Calgary Airport Authority held its YYC Navigators program in partnership with Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge for the third year in a row and this one was their biggest event yet.

Children were given hats and swag and along with their families were then led through the logistics of the airport from checking in, going through security and eventually boarding a plane.

YYC’s Manager of Airport Community Engagement Peggy Blacklock says the goal is to provide parents with the insight to see if air travel is a viable option for them.

“It can be a real challenge for all of us sometimes,” she said. “That’s why we’ve partnered with Society for Treatment of Autism and other organizations like theirs to kind of guide us in that respect.”

Children are even provided with mock passports so they can get a stamp at the end of the ordeal.

“It gives these families such a level of comfort,” said Blacklock. “It just opens up a whole new world of opportunity for them and gives them that comfort.”

Air Canada Station Manager Mark Dantu says they’re pleased to be involved again.

“We have had families travel with us in the past and we know how challenging it can be for them when they’re travelling to the airport, it can be challenging for anybody but with a heightened sort of sense of anxiety for the children,” he said. “So far it’s been very successful.”

“This was a great opportunity to be involved in a community event and just offer some help.”

This year’s event included 90 participants and it walked them through the new state of the art international terminal for the first time.

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