flying with autistic child

[Guest guest]

Hi Jodi,

was non verbal until 3.5 and then it only increased slowly. He wasnt fully verbal until after 5-years old.

The first time we flew, I remember he was very antsy in his seat. He would sit his tiny tushy on the arm rest and jump. He also thought those phones that used to be in the seat were a riot and the trays were an entertainment device. That is how I figured out we needed a family member to sit infront of him.

There was also a time when he threw things. That was awkward. That was around the time he couldnt be without his gameboy. But when he lost he threw it...picture a game boy flying two rows. I sat with my hand holding it best I could.

Two years ago, as he started to get bigger...and talkative....he is brutally honest in everything....we stood at the gate waiting to board...there was a large man standing... reached out to his belly and said "you have a big belly". Oye! Or the time a girl was wearing a crop top and he reached out to touch her belly button. Waiting at the gate was kind of hard. Not sure if it is just the waiting game or that I was afraid to use all my stuff for the plane but I did get him used to the fact that he can take ONE thing from his backpack to play with. When he was younger that was a difficult concept so I had to pack his backpack with less stuff and put more in mine and then refill his when hubby took him to bathroom. I also, in those younger days did go over to the gate people and explain that couldnt deal and had very little patience and they would let us preboard (many airlines dont let you preboard unless your children are babies). He waits now pretty well but does wine and keep repeating that we need to go on. Or, he has trouble if there are people infront of us...used to yell "they are cutting" (the looks I got from that). I just kept repeating that we are all taking our turn and our turn is coming up...worked out to teach a good lesson.

O- one more thing...security line...that was more difficult two years ago...(cause they werent so bad before Sept 01). He is getting more patience with that. But even I find it difficult. He has learned to walk thru the scanner...I would always have hubby go first, big brother next, sister next then and me. Once last year, he decided to march kinda silly like...the tough-looking lady security person stopped him and told him to go back and do it again...I held my breath and he went thru. She made him do it one more time..I then said, he isnt try to be funny, he thinks he is doing it right. He has autism. She looked at me like I had four heads.

Randi~

mom to 12, 9 (10 this monday) asd, and le 8