![\"IMG_CS_MOB_Wings_for_Autism_Mar17-4\"](\"https:\/\/www.envoyair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_CS_MOB_Wings_for_Autism_Mar17-4.jpg\" "\\"Station")
<\/a><\/p>\nSlowly they make their way to the ticket counter to begin their rehearsal day at the airport. Today, these parents and their children with autism are taking the next step to easing themselves into the regular motions\u00a0of taking a trip by plane.<\/p>\n
Wings for Autism is a program designed by The Arc, a national non-profit organization helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that gives families and their children a chance to lessen any stress of traveling by air before they make a real departure. The rehearsal takes participants from the ticket counter, through security and to boarding the aircraft.<\/p>\n
Priority\u00a0boarding<\/h3>\n
Envoy Station Agents at MOB helped the participants check their bags, print their boarding passes and board the aircraft. The program was a collaboration of The Autism Society of Alabama, Mobile Arc, Mobile Airport Authority, \u00a0and regional airline partners. The event is\u00a0also part of American Airlines “It’s Cool to Fly American” program.<\/p>\n
Many of the families participating in Wings for Autism have trips coming up soon, and the program is perfect for their needs.<\/p>\n
Lawryn jumps up and exclaims, \u201cyeah!,\u201d and zooms around with his arms out like an airplane. In fact, many of the children posed the same way looking like a fleet of Embraer jets taxiing down a runway.<\/p>\n Little Johnny jumped up and down in sheer excitement. Five-year-old William held on to his mother\u2019s hand as he cautiously approached the escalator. A red-headed little girl stands in awe as she nears the security checkpoint.<\/p>\n Like seasoned travelling professionals the children go through security with hardly a hiccup. And once they\u2019re through the metal detectors, it\u2019s off to the gate for the main event.<\/p>\n Not only is Wings for Autism beneficial to its participants, but employees of the airport can also learn from the day\u2019s rehearsal trip. Sure, children can brighten up any cloudy day, but more importantly they can bring out the best in customer service.<\/p>\n \u201cThis program really teaches us patience and to be more considerate of people with special needs,\u201d says Envoy Station Agent Jamila \u201cSuper J\u201d Ali.<\/p>\n Chuck Davis, Envoy Regional Managing Director, was on hand to volunteer with Wings for Autism. Ecstatic to be a part of the effort, Chuck expresses his gratefulness for any program that reduces challenges for the travelling public, he says.<\/p>\n Also, as is apparent by his pinned-on grin, Chuck loves helping children. All around him, fluttering around the concourse, children laugh, play and shriek with anticipation.<\/p>\n As\u00a0soon as the boarding calls are made, the children and their parents are lined up raring to go. With a few beeps from the scanner and a \u201cwelcome aboard\u201d from the gate agents, the children begin their journey down the jet bridge.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cWe\u2019re going on a trip to South Carolina this summer, so we\u2019re testing to see how he will do on a long ride,\u201d says the grandmother of nine-year-old Lawryn. \u201cBut he\u2019s so excited to get on an airplane for the first time!\u201d<\/p>\nAttention to cuteness<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u201cFor us, the attention to detail becomes our focus,\u201d says Envoy Station Agent Shanna Corbin in\u00a0agreement with her coworker. \u201cChildren require more attention and it\u2019s good for us to be more mindful of that.\u201d<\/p>\nWheels up<\/h3>\n