Miami International Airport and American Airlines Host Special Tour for Children with Special Needs Ahead of Holiday Season

Just before the holiday rush, Miami International Airport and American Airlines have come together to offer a unique opportunity to children with special needs—allowing them a taste of the travel experience in a stress-free environment. In an event that is equal parts educational and enchanting, more than 40 students were given a personal look at the complexities of air travel, including boarding procedures and interactions with the aircraft itself, as reported by

WSVN

.

The initiative, part of the MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness (MIAair) program, aimed to demystify the process of flying for these young individuals, providing them with boarding passes, ushering them through security, and leading them onto an American Airlines aircraft, letting them rehearse travel without the pressure of an actual trip about to begin, the rehearsals took place just weeks before the anticipated Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel seasons, aiming to give these individuals a chance to experience the hustle and bustle of the airport in a controlled way, according to details furnished by

Miami International Airport

news release.

“It’s pretty cool, it’s like a starship from ‘Star Wars,’” excitedly proclaimed Daniel Duque, one of the children who took part in the tour, as he experienced the aircraft’s first-class section, emphasizing the novelty and thrill of the experience, as noted in an interview by

WSVN

. Such first-time encounters are essential in MIA’s effort, in partnership with the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), to familiarize over 200 special needs children with air travel since the program’s inception in 2015.

The program affords a twofold benefit, also serving as a practical training ground for airline and airport workers to enhance their ability to interact with individuals of all abilities, “Team members working today are getting invaluable training on how to best interact with individuals of all abilities,” Julie Hughes, Managing Director of Customer Care of American Airlines, emphasized the importance of such training, it prepares staff for a diverse range of passenger needs, thus ensuring a supportive travel environment for all airline patrons, as stated by

WSVN.

For those interested in learning more about the strides

MIA

is making in accessibility services, including the award-winning MIAair program, can find information at the MyMIAccess home page. This program is just one example of how travel can be made more inclusive, allowing every individual the chance to experience the wonder of flying and the breadth of the world beyond their immediate horizon.

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