Changefied and Vliegen met Autisme share the same mission: to make travel predictable, safe, and accessible for people with autism and other neurodivergent travelers. While Virtual OV uses Virtual Reality to help practice traveling on public transport step by step, Vliegen met Autisme helps make the step to the airplane and the airport feasible.

Flying with Autism makes air travel more accessible and predictable for children and adults with autism or heightened sensory sensitivity, so that a flight becomes within reach again instead of unreachable or extremely stressful. Through tours, practical tools, and targeted preparation, they help travelers and those around them to travel with more calm, structure, and self-confidence.

Why flying can be so exciting

For many people with autism, flying itself is not the biggest problem, but everything surrounding it: the crowds, the noise, the lack of overview, and all the unfamiliar steps at the airport. This mix of stimuli and uncertainty can cause so much stress that a flight is postponed or avoided altogether.

Possible reasons for an elevated stress level include:

• Sensory overstimulation due to crowding, loud noises, bright lighting, air pressure differences, and the limited space in the airplane.
• Unpredictability and changes, such as delays, security checks, and unexpected adjustments to the journey.
• Social situations, for example contact with fellow passengers, cabin crew, or security.
• Physical sensations such as being frisked, being touched unexpectedly, take-off, turbulence, and landing.
• Breaking structure and routine due to long queues, time pressure, and schedule changes.

Every person is different, which is why tailored preparation and guidance are crucial.

How Flying with Autism Helps

The Flying with Autism Foundation focuses on lowering barriers before and during the trip, so that the traveler can prepare step by step. Through concrete experiences, explanations, and clear tools, the entire itinerary becomes more predictable and manageable.

They offer, among other things:

• Airport tours (including Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport) where travelers can calmly discover the route from arrival to gate and get a unique look behind the scenes.
• Individual support and customized pathways, tailored to the sensory and emotional needs of the traveler and his/her environment.
• Webinars, guest lectures, and presentations for parents, professionals, and aviation training programs to increase knowledge about autism and sensory sensitivity during flying.
• Practical tools such as the (e-)handbook “Flying with Autism”, an airport route map, and other materials that provide structure, overview, and guidance during the journey.

This combination of realistic preparation, clear information, and appropriate support creates more calm, structure, and confidence – for both travelers and their guides.

More information

Would you like to know more about the possibilities, tours, (e-)handbook, and individual guidance regarding flying with autism? Then visit the website of Stichting Vliegen met Autisme for current information, dates, and registration.