Something about flight makes us all feel a little freer, especially when we’re in the cockpit. We’ve written about the Young Eagles program which provides a free flight and other resources for children interested in learning about aviation, but what about children with special needs? COVID had placed a damper on many in-person events, but these programs continue to innovate ways to awe and inspire special needs and disadvantaged children.
Launched in 1993, Challenge Air has been committed to improving the quality of life for children/youth 7-21 years old with special needs. Prior to the pandemic, they brought their program to cities around the U.S. Volunteers taught attendees about the plane, then helped attendees and a family member get settled in the plane. Finally, they took off for a twenty-minute flight. During most flights, the children were allowed to take the controls. Children then received their wings and a certificate after landing.
You can bring Challenge Air to your city by completing an application on their website detailing why you think your city would be a great fit for the program. The program is free for all the families who participate.
All events are halted for the moment due to COVID-19, but Challenge Air continues to seek ways to engage special needs children and youth in aviation. On March 6, the organization will hold an at-home virtual fly day. Challenge Air will provide a Virtual Reality Kit for participants at no charge. Find out more and register here.
Above the Clouds extends its mission to include children and teens with serious illness or disability, are underserved or facing other serious adversity. The program flies out of Norwood Memorial Airport in Norwood, Massachusetts. Outside of the pandemic, they offer three programs: Dream Flyers, Cadet Flyers, and Discovery Flyers. The Discovery and Cadet flyers have resumed operations, but Dream Flyers remain on holds.
The organization understands the joy and awe that come from experiencing your first flight, or just seeing an airplane or helicopter. With their youngest participants in mind, they created Dream Flyover as a way for seriously ill or underserved children to feel special and experience the elation of being near an aircraft. You’ll have to read Above the Cloud’s story for yourself for the full effect, but their first flyover event turned into an on-the-ground social-distanced parade in addition to fun-filled fly-over. They’ve recreated similar events for other children throughout 2020.
Flight Preparation Activities
Flying with special needs children, youth, or adults presents challenges for the caregivers, the airline, and most of all those with special needs. Many airlines have created opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to prepare and navigate air transit more easily.
The Arc created Autism/Wings for All to offer families and aviation professionals a chance to rehearse air travel before traveling. This allows families and people with I/DDs to understand what to expect when flying and to learn how they will react to the many stimuli presented at the airport. It also allows airline employees and other personnel an opportunity to learn how to better interact with all their passengers.
In Atlanta and Minneapolis airports, Delta offers “Taking Flight.” A tour that guides special needs children through check-in, security, and the gate before allowing the children board an airplane. One inside they have an opportunity to sit in the captain’s chair and meet Delta crew members.
American Airlines hosts a similar program called “It’s Cool to Fly.” The program offers a mock trial of going through the motions of checking-in and boarding an airplane before taxiing around the runway.
We’re sad to see so many of these amazing programs stalled due to the pandemic, and we look forward to seeing them take to the skies very soon. There’s nothing like a bird’s eye view of the world or taking the controls of an airplane for the first time. And we salute these organizations for ensuring special needs children and young adults don’t miss out on these opportunities.
