Vancouver Airport has become the first in Canada to implement a program that provides an expedited airport process for families and individuals living with autism.
In a bid to get through screening and customs faster, the program allows a sticker to be placed on boarding passes of families and individuals with autism.
The new YVR Autism Access Sticker was developed as part of the I CAN Fly program, a collaboration between YVR and the Canucks Autism Network (CAN), which provides air travel resources to support individuals and families living with autism.
“One of our top priorities is providing an accessible airport for everyone, and it is through collaboration with partners like the Canucks Autism Network that we are able to identify new opportunities to make our airport as accessible as possible,” said Craig Richmond, president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority, in a press release.
The access program is a self-identification tool for individuals living with autism that can be placed on boarding passes.
The sticker ensures an expedited airport process through screening and customs, and better communicates the specific needs of passengers to airport employees.
“Our partnership with (the airport) allows families to become familiarized and desensitized to the whole travel process,” added Katy Harandi, president and CEO, of CAN.
The launch of the program coincides with the third annual YVR Accessibility Tour, which provides more than 100 individuals and families living with autism the opportunity to experience the air travel process step-by-step to help decrease anxiety while travelling and experience flying in a positive way.
