Passport to Inclusion: PDX Event Helps Make Travel Accessible for Everyone

Traveling through an airport is sensory overload. One must first navigate a kiosk to get an airline ticket and check a bag. Next comes the shuffle through the crowds to get into the security line while Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents loudly remind everyone what to take out of their luggage. At times, officers with dogs sniff at people as they walk by.

Also, remember to remove your shoes, belts and everything from your pockets before going through the full-body scanner. Remember to gather all your belongings while finding your gate number on the giant electronic departure board. Next, ensure the flight is on time, figure out your boarding number and remember to grab a bite because the next chance to eat is hours away.

These stressors are enough to try even the most seasoned traveler. Imagine doing all of that when you or someone you love has a disability or sensory sensitivities.

Jessica Robertson of Vancouver thought flying to see relatives or going on vacations was off the table forever due to her 3-1/2-year-old son Myles’s autism. This loss of travel felt even more permanent after a highly stressful road trip test proved unsuccessful. Robertson envisioned a life where seeing family members in different states would be a rarity, and everyone would have to travel to see her, not to mention that all family vacation plans would be put on hold indefinitely.

The thought of staying in one place felt isolating and lonely.

But then Robertson heard through a Vancouver autism moms’ Facebook group about a special event periodically held at Portland International Airport (PDX) and decided to give traveling one more try.

Mock Travel Experience – Passport to Inclusion

For families like the Robertsons, nothing is more stressful than having paid for a flight, only to discover at the airport that the onslaught of airport chaos and subsequent hours-long flight is not realistic for someone in their traveling party. That’s why Autism Society of Oregon has partnered with the Port of Portland to present Passport to Inclusion (previously called Sky’s the Limit). In this mock travel experience, families are invited to come to PDX, park free for five hours inside the parking structure, and experience the airport for as long as they need without buying a ticket or actually flying anywhere.

Tobi Rates, executive director of Autism Society of Oregon, says Passport to Inclusion was designed for people like the Robertson family. The event is inclusive, so any child or adult with a disability, seen or unseen, is welcome to participate. “The idea is that families and individuals with disabilities who will be traveling come to the airport, they park, they check in with us, they go through TSA security, and the full security scan, and from there, they get to explore the airport,” Rates explains.

For children and adults with sensory sensitivities, going through a TSA line can be overwhelming, and it’s often one of the first major hurdles. There is a lot of waiting, with people on all sides of you, noise from everywhere and people breaking down strollers or unpacking bags. Passport to Inclusion organizers understand these stressors and have a dedicated lane so participants can get the whole experience with less stress.

Travel Accessibility Resources at PDX

In addition to helping families test out the traveling experience, a second purpose is to educate families on available resources. While at the event, the Robertsons learned about a year-round PDX program called TSA Cares. Any day of the year, not just during Passport to Inclusion, the initiative assists travelers with medical conditions, disabilities or others who may need additional assistance with screening. TSA Cares has specially trained staff who can provide travelers and their families with the necessary support and information to get through the screening process. A TSA passenger support specialist (PSS) is also available to provide additional resources to the family and can communicate and assist those who need screening assistance.

After the security check, participants of Passport to Inclusion earn stamps on their passports by visiting different airport areas. While it gets them comfortable with the noise and feel of the airport, it has another significant benefit: it shows them how inclusive PDX truly is and how to use available resources to help them as they travel. One of the first things Robertson did with her son was visit the sensory room, which she learned about upon arriving at Passport to Inclusion. “It’s very quiet, and there are many soft chairs to lounge on, things to fidget and play with, even bubbles on the wall,” she says. “Our little guy loved that.”

Exploring an Airplane

Sometimes the Passport to Inclusion airline partner (most recently United Airlines), provides a real airplane that families can board to get the whole experience. “They can go onboard to check it out and talk to airline employees, the pilots and the flight attendants, often see the cockpit and just get a feel for what it’s like to be on a plane,” says Rates.

When Robertson and her son participated in the event, a plane was available, giving them an understanding of what it would take to fly successfully. “It had the jets going, so it had loud noises, people were coming on and off the plane,” she says. “[Our son] went through the whole process just fine, enjoyed every bit of it, loved every bit.” While her son struggled with the movement of the people all around him, he did well thanks to the sensory toys and a tablet Robertson brought with her.

Tips and Tricks from Fellow Travelers

By going through this mock trial, travelers and their families learn what tips and tricks they can utilize when the big day of real travel comes. Rates says this is another reason Passport to Inclusion is essential for families. They walk away from the event with a better understanding of what they need to bring to make the trip more comfortable and relaxing for all their loved ones.

While Robertson learned a lot from the experience, she also gained insight from the other families there. “We talked to other local people at the event with kids with autism and got their stories about flying.” Robertson took notes on how they could make it better for their son next time. They also learned some hidden challenges from people who have gone through it, and gleaned tips on how they could work with their son at home before coming to the airport to make him even more comfortable with traveling.

“It was a fantastic learning experience,” Robertson continues. “Everyone there at the airport was so kind. They even gave us lanyards that signify that we may need help while we are out and about in the airport. That was really helpful. We learned so much information from people at the airport, and it was really beneficial.”

Practicing and Preparing to Make Memories

Despite being armed with knowledge about specialty programs and where to go for extra assistance, navigating an airport can still be challenging. Some kids and adults need more time to acclimate, and every day can be different.

Knowing this, Autism Society of Oregon and Port of Portland designed Passport to Inclusion to be more than just a one-and-done program; families can attend the event as often as they wish. “They can build up how comfortable they feel and learn if they can get through the different portions of the day,” Rates says. Having that knowledge ahead of time is crucial. “You don’t want to have that happen when you’ve already paid for the airline ticket, and everyone is stressed out trying to get to their vacation.”

“We spent three hours [at PDX] just exploring the airport and going through the whole experience of flying without the stress of having to do it. So, it was really cool,” Robertson shares. They even had lunch provided by the airport so they could experience what it would be like to eat there, plus it got them another stamp on their passport.

Once a family has collected all the stamps, or as many as they would like to collect, in their passport, they go back to the check-in desk to claim a small prize and a certificate. This is usually where Rates sees all the smiling faces of people excited to travel again. “The response uniformly has been thrilled. They’re so happy we are doing this. It’s taken a lot of the anxiety and stress away. It’s made it possible to fly and see family members, grandparents and people who don’t live in the area and build some family memories.”

Those are precisely the kind of memories that Robertson looks forward to making.

No matter how challenging and stressful the flying process can be, dedicated individuals and groups want to make the experience more inclusive, and that makes the skies friendlier for everyone. “It was a scary thing to think about,” Robertson says, “but once we were there and they gave us all the information about the different areas we could go to and the help we could get, it put me and my husband’s mind at rest. Even if we were to have issues during the flying process, we learned that there are many people there who can help us, and that made me feel good.”

For individuals and families who plan to travel before participating in the next Passport to Inclusion, Rates says resources are always available. She encourages families to contact the airline they are flying with to see what assistance they can provide the day of the flight. Travelers can always contact the TSA about TSA Cares, and how to participate.

Additionally, the Port of Portland has a wealth of resources about PDX, including available programs and where to find sensory-friendly rooms throughout the airport. “[Port of Portland and TSA] have been incredible partners in all this,” says Rates. “They are doing their best and have put a lot of time, energy and resources into making the airport accessible to everybody,” says Rates.

Passport to Inclusion is held two or three times a year, with the next event scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2024. As a highly popular event, the limited slots fill up quickly, so families are urged to register as soon as sign-ups are available. For more information and to sign up, visit AutismSocietyOregon.org.

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Go here to learn how two local travel enthusiasts with disabilities are sounding off on creating more accessible spaces, at home and abroad.