AIRPLANES & AUTISM

once someone with intellectual disabilities travels things can go very very wrong this is how we made it through security she is super nervous super upset you gonna be okay an Oregon family traveling with a 15 year old girl with autism was kicked off the United Airlines flight this week people of determination how we in the UAE refer to people with disabilities might find themselves stressed or anxious and this is their natural way of reacting they mean no harm Salameh and I have a beautiful child Abdullah who is on the autism spectrum and I would never want this situation to happen to him or any other child when they're traveling so what can be done how can we all prepare to avoid situations like this earlier today the family and I took a trip from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain to show you how let's start at the beginning I just wanted to double-check with you that the DNA code has been finalized for Abdullah stickit [Music] and they have all been confirmed [Music] okay I am nervous we leave to the airport in about an hour I have no idea what to expect but what I do know is what we learn on this video has a potential to change a lot of lives and for me that's our breathing so here we go I'm della but you're gay mowing come on we're gonna go in the car on the plane in 2008 the International Air Transport Association introduced a code called D P and a which can be used with travel agents and airlines to alert them when a passenger has intellectual or developmental disabilities and needs assistance Parenthood so when you're booking your next flight with an airline or a travel agent and you use this code it allows you to list requirements that you will have when you travel since get into the airport everything has been super smooth when we got to guest information services they knew exactly about the code where to go thank you so much that's guest services as soon as we told them that we've used the DNA code they told us to check in from counter 76 through 80 so when you look up the first thing you see from counter is 18 to 76 are they they are the family check-in they're already dedicated for family and that's where we've been assigned to when you use the DNA code whether you're a full family or not we have Abdullah book under the gpna with the dependent code you have the requirements and everything that's ok ok Oh amazing yeah I mean if that's possible then you as a family we're going to be together all disease aren't getting together [Music] [Music] okay as put the DPI knee code you're supposed to get quick access onto the flight so they'll bring you to the front of the queue if that's necessary they'll make sure you get on the bus first we need to board as a family sit together as a family anyway time to get on the bus [Music] they love flying so much like they're so excited so when you put in the DNA code we put a list of requirements one of those requirements were that we all got to sit on the same row and we all got to board as a family sometimes they split you up and that can be a source of stress for a child on the autism spectrum so we just want to keep things as normal as possible it had cater to that and we're here all comfortable for today hamdulillah another thing an airline can do is keep the seat next to you free for as long as possible if they keep it empty until the plane is completely boarded that gives you a better chance to have that little extra space and to ensure that the passenger is comfortable and that you have that space to take care of them if they're stressed out if they feel anxious this is really important you just need that little bit of space sometimes that's all the food [Music] [Applause] look 20 minutes of the landing and and like the smoothest I mean everything's be comfortable they've checked in on Abdullah a couple times which is pretty cool really good that's like a apparent injury [Music] and we're gonna swim before lunch for lunch okay we have landed safe and sound al hamdulillah and we use that code and it made a huge difference in how we felt when we were flying because the airline were aware and that gave us so much peace of mind a company called Travelport did research and of the 250 million flights that they booked in 2018 the code was only used four thousand times that's like zero point zero zero zero zero one five percent or something like that and that to me is sad because you're seeing these situations happen around the world but the solution exists what needs to happen is we all need to be responsible and raising awareness about it and for me the biggest concern is the code exists DNA exists we all can use it but airlines are not required to they don't have to do anything but that's why our awareness and raising the issue is so important as a father and a parent today using this code has changed the way we travel and it's gonna change the way we travel for the rest of our lives and for the rest of Abdullah's life too because when it comes to inclusive travel we are all responsible Mahatma Gandhi famously said be the change you wish to see in this world and that is what needs to be done the responsibility lies on all of us that is when real change is made much love and God bless you all

Channel: Khalid Al Ameri

Views: 1,413,129

Rating: 4.9435229 out of 5

Keywords: Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Autism, Travel, Airports, Airlines, Special Needs, Special Education, Autism Awareness, Parenting, Family, Vlog, Family Vlog, Khalid Al Ameri, Salama Mohammed

Id: L-5SzOxOWpY

Length: 7min 35sec (455 seconds)

Published: Tue Apr 16 2019

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