Picture cards help autistic children cope with flights
AIR travel can be a stressful experience for anyone, but especially daunting for those with autism.
In an attempt to ease the anxiety of flying for children and adults with the learning disability, also known as autistic spectrum disorder or ASD, a former British Airways stewardess has created information cards that describe in illustrations exactly what is happening during take-off, flight and landing, as well as at the airport.
Rebecca Taylor, from Leyland, Lancashire, had the idea for ASD in-flight guides when travelling with her 11-year-old autistic son Joshua.
New environments and situations can be particularly difficult and at times distressing for those with the condition, who often have trouble understanding and interacting with others. According to the National Autistic Society, many people with ASD find it easier to learn new information through pictures rather than words, so ‘visual supports’, such as illustrated lists and ‘timelines’, are a known method to help with everyday tasks.
Taylor’s guide follows this method. On the laminated cards, which can be given to a child or adult before setting off, sentences such as ‘Go to the seat number on your boarding card’ are broken into sections with an illustration describing each action needed to complete the task.
‘Go to’ has an illustration of a man pointing at a seat, ‘the seat number’ is symbolised by a seat with a number, ‘on your’ is an arrow, and ‘your boarding card’ is illustrated with a cartoon boarding card.
Taylor, who is now a teaching assistant, said: ‘The system using strips of pictures with words underneath was one that I knew of from my job working with children with autism, and being a mother to a spectrum child.’
The cards are available in versions aimed at a range of reading ages. My Flight and My International Flight information cards are £3.50 at learningrose.com.