This mock travel experience is preparing Islanders with Autism to fly

These young Islanders and their families got to take part in a special airport experience. Autism Aviators is a travel day for people with autism but this is about the journey more than the destination. This year they actually got to go up in a plane for the first time. The whole entire airplane was filled with children of all kinds of special needs and they all did amazing. So it prepares the parents of you know what they need to bring. Maybe they need to bring extra snacks maybe they need to bring their headphones or a device or their favorite blanket it gives you a chance to see what does my child actually need on a flight Demings was on the plane with her son who has non-verbal autism it was actually his first flight and he loved it a lot of good memories um we took videos and pictures and i'm still showing him this is what we did that day and the smile it lit up his face like every time we see it he's just so excited and he laughs about it. So I'm excited to take him for his next flight. About 30 families took part and 80 people went on the short 45-minute flight in the air across PEI to Nova Scotia and back. Families get to do things like check in and go through security. The hope is to go through some of the challenges of flying and minimize anxiety for families while traveling. It's creating that opportunity to feel included in your community, supported with your child's needs and more understanding the ability to prepare in advance and a lot of times kids with autism can struggle with change and transitions but having someone support them through what's going to happen what could happen that can set them up to be successful i was there so i was able to experience the the level of stress just reduced from the families as the day went on there's lots of smiles lots of laughter and i think it was an overall positive experience for many as for Demings her dream has always been to take her son to Disney World she now feels much more prepared to do that and highly recommends the experience. Like when the plane took off and went to the speed they were just all excited and he loved it and now I have the confidence to take him on another trip. Connor Lamont, CBC News, Charlottetown.