Re: Getting through Airport Security with a Developmentally Delayed teen

[Guest guest]

As you already know the MOST important thing is YOU being calm. She will feed

off of your anxiety. Make it as normal as possible so that she feels the safety

of the situation. Just tell her what to expect NOT why. Sometimes our kids just

need to know what and not why because they trust us not the world. I know that

is MUCH easier said than done but it will help things greatly. I would also

consider writing the situation down on a card as you give them your other

documents they can read that she is developmentally delayed and will not have to

ask so many questions. Keep it simple though. Hope this helps. I have a son who

has a high IQ but other emotional issues and can be WEIRD sometimes. He one time

handed me a pocket knife AFTER we went through TSA. He had legitamately

forgotten about it. But I had NO IDEA he had it. I did not know whether to go

back or what??? I just put it in my pocket and kept going then later discarded

it before getting on the plane. But I was freaked out to say the least.

; neutropenia ;

shwachmansyndrome

From: maryjeanedavis@...

Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:53:51 -0700

Subject: Getting through Airport Security with a Developmentally

Delayed teen

Hi friends,

I need some input from all you experts.....we are flying to Austin, TX

tomorrow (from California)...

Thanks to a suggestion of the FG Facebook page(the syndrome the andra

has been diagnosed with), I contacted the TSA Cares line, talked to 3

people so far....not sure if any of it has helped to calm my nerves about

getting andra through the TSA security. I have run the gambit of

emotions from total outrage that I have no control over what is done to my

child to a resolve that we will leave the airport before allowing some

strange TSA agent to pat her down....now that I have calmed down a little,

I realize that I must accept the fact that andra could have to have a

patdown if we want to fly with her. How do you explain this to a

developmentally delayed teen???? She wants to know the " whys " of going

through security now.....if I tell her it is to make sure no one has a bomb

or gun or knife that will only heighten her fears of getting on the

airplane! She has flown alot up to this point but never questioned the

security and also, the body scanners and pat-down of kids (or anyone else)

has gotten to be so much more invasive! AHHHH!

I would love some input on how you explain all this to your kids without

alarming them and how you prepared them for the possibility of a pat-down

search. We are headed to see our new granddaughter, I want this to be a

happy trip but so far I am a nervous wreck and convinced that I want to

give up flying altogether!

Thanks,

Jeane

Mom to andra (FG, 16, delayed, deaf, CVID and possible MDA)

PS- the other concerning issue is the sensory overload a pat-down would put

on her....she does not like anyone to touch her! If she gets hurt or needs

comfort, she has never allowed my husband and I to comfort her with a hug

or any kind of physical touch....so a pat-down??? REALLY??? How would I

explain that to TSA?? I have already tried but basically they don't care

despite their " TSA Cares " hotline!

[Guest guest]

Being a medical diagnosis group most parents have no experience except that of

explaining the process to age appropriate children. I could only tell you what

i think you should do. I have no clue what i would do. I'm sure they have had

extensive training in this area.

Ursula

On Mar 28, 2012, at 4:53 PM, Jeane <maryjeanedavis@...> wrote:

> Hi friends,

>

> I need some input from all you experts.....we are flying to Austin, TX

> tomorrow (from California)...

>

> Thanks to a suggestion of the FG Facebook page(the syndrome the andra

> has been diagnosed with), I contacted the TSA Cares line, talked to 3

> people so far....not sure if any of it has helped to calm my nerves about

> getting andra through the TSA security. I have run the gambit of

> emotions from total outrage that I have no control over what is done to my

> child to a resolve that we will leave the airport before allowing some

> strange TSA agent to pat her down....now that I have calmed down a little,

> I realize that I must accept the fact that andra could have to have a

> patdown if we want to fly with her. How do you explain this to a

> developmentally delayed teen???? She wants to know the " whys " of going

> through security now.....if I tell her it is to make sure no one has a bomb

> or gun or knife that will only heighten her fears of getting on the

> airplane! She has flown alot up to this point but never questioned the

> security and also, the body scanners and pat-down of kids (or anyone else)

> has gotten to be so much more invasive! AHHHH!

>

> I would love some input on how you explain all this to your kids without

> alarming them and how you prepared them for the possibility of a pat-down

> search. We are headed to see our new granddaughter, I want this to be a

> happy trip but so far I am a nervous wreck and convinced that I want to

> give up flying altogether!

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jeane

> Mom to andra (FG, 16, delayed, deaf, CVID and possible MDA)

>

> PS- the other concerning issue is the sensory overload a pat-down would put

> on her....she does not like anyone to touch her! If she gets hurt or needs

> comfort, she has never allowed my husband and I to comfort her with a hug

> or any kind of physical touch....so a pat-down??? REALLY??? How would I

> explain that to TSA?? I have already tried but basically they don't care

> despite their " TSA Cares " hotline!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Barbie,

Thank you so much for your input....I did go ahead and make a very simple

card outlining her disabilities. You are absolutely right about the being

calm issue....she does read my face very well! Hopefully, all will go well

and we will be happily on our way to Austin tomorrow afternoon!

Jeane

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 2:07 PM, Barbie Jimenez <mother5590@...> wrote:

>

> As you already know the MOST important thing is YOU being calm. She will

> feed off of your anxiety. Make it as normal as possible so that she feels

> the safety of the situation. Just tell her what to expect NOT why.

> Sometimes our kids just need to know what and not why because they trust us

> not the world. I know that is MUCH easier said than done but it will help

> things greatly. I would also consider writing the situation down on a card

> as you give them your other documents they can read that she is

> developmentally delayed and will not have to ask so many questions. Keep it

> simple though. Hope this helps. I have a son who has a high IQ but other

> emotional issues and can be WEIRD sometimes. He one time handed me a pocket

> knife AFTER we went through TSA. He had legitamately forgotten about it.

> But I had NO IDEA he had it. I did not know whether to go back or what??? I

> just put it in my pocket and kept going then later discarded it before

> getting on the plane. But I was freaked out to say the least.

> ; neutropenia ;

> shwachmansyndrome

> From: maryjeanedavis@...

> Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:53:51 -0700

> Subject: Getting through Airport Security with a Developmentally

> Delayed teen

>

>

>

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>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi friends,

>

>

>

> I need some input from all you experts.....we are flying to Austin, TX

>

> tomorrow (from California)...

>

>

>

> Thanks to a suggestion of the FG Facebook page(the syndrome the andra

>

> has been diagnosed with), I contacted the TSA Cares line, talked to 3

>

> people so far....not sure if any of it has helped to calm my nerves about

>

> getting andra through the TSA security. I have run the gambit of

>

> emotions from total outrage that I have no control over what is done to my

>

> child to a resolve that we will leave the airport before allowing some

>

> strange TSA agent to pat her down....now that I have calmed down a little,

>

> I realize that I must accept the fact that andra could have to have a

>

> patdown if we want to fly with her. How do you explain this to a

>

> developmentally delayed teen???? She wants to know the " whys " of going

>

> through security now.....if I tell her it is to make sure no one has a bomb

>

> or gun or knife that will only heighten her fears of getting on the

>

> airplane! She has flown alot up to this point but never questioned the

>

> security and also, the body scanners and pat-down of kids (or anyone else)

>

> has gotten to be so much more invasive! AHHHH!

>

>

>

> I would love some input on how you explain all this to your kids without

>

> alarming them and how you prepared them for the possibility of a pat-down

>

> search. We are headed to see our new granddaughter, I want this to be a

>

> happy trip but so far I am a nervous wreck and convinced that I want to

>

> give up flying altogether!

>

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

> Jeane

>

> Mom to andra (FG, 16, delayed, deaf, CVID and possible MDA)

>

>

>

> PS- the other concerning issue is the sensory overload a pat-down would put

>

> on her....she does not like anyone to touch her! If she gets hurt or needs

>

> comfort, she has never allowed my husband and I to comfort her with a hug

>

> or any kind of physical touch....so a pat-down??? REALLY??? How would I

>

> explain that to TSA?? I have already tried but basically they don't care

>

> despite their " TSA Cares " hotline!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ursula,

I hope they have had extensive training in this area, so far the

conversations I have had with TSA people have not inspired too much

confidence in that area! Hoping for some kind, sensitive, well trained TSA

employees at security tomorrow!

Jeane

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 4:34 PM, Ursula Holleman <uahollem@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

> Being a medical diagnosis group most parents have no experience except

> that of explaining the process to age appropriate children. I could only

> tell you what i think you should do. I have no clue what i would do. I'm

> sure they have had extensive training in this area.

>

> Ursula

>

> On Mar 28, 2012, at 4:53 PM, Jeane <maryjeanedavis@...>

> wrote:

>

> > Hi friends,

> >

> > I need some input from all you experts.....we are flying to Austin, TX

> > tomorrow (from California)...

> >

> > Thanks to a suggestion of the FG Facebook page(the syndrome the andra

> > has been diagnosed with), I contacted the TSA Cares line, talked to 3

> > people so far....not sure if any of it has helped to calm my nerves about

> > getting andra through the TSA security. I have run the gambit of

> > emotions from total outrage that I have no control over what is done to

> my

> > child to a resolve that we will leave the airport before allowing some

> > strange TSA agent to pat her down....now that I have calmed down a

> little,

> > I realize that I must accept the fact that andra could have to have a

> > patdown if we want to fly with her. How do you explain this to a

> > developmentally delayed teen???? She wants to know the " whys " of going

> > through security now.....if I tell her it is to make sure no one has a

> bomb

> > or gun or knife that will only heighten her fears of getting on the

> > airplane! She has flown alot up to this point but never questioned the

> > security and also, the body scanners and pat-down of kids (or anyone

> else)

> > has gotten to be so much more invasive! AHHHH!

> >

> > I would love some input on how you explain all this to your kids without

> > alarming them and how you prepared them for the possibility of a pat-down

> > search. We are headed to see our new granddaughter, I want this to be a

> > happy trip but so far I am a nervous wreck and convinced that I want to

> > give up flying altogether!

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Jeane

> > Mom to andra (FG, 16, delayed, deaf, CVID and possible MDA)

> >

> > PS- the other concerning issue is the sensory overload a pat-down would

> put

> > on her....she does not like anyone to touch her! If she gets hurt or

> needs

> > comfort, she has never allowed my husband and I to comfort her with a hug

> > or any kind of physical touch....so a pat-down??? REALLY??? How would I

> > explain that to TSA?? I have already tried but basically they don't care

> > despite their " TSA Cares " hotline!

> >

> >