My previous research showed that airports already provide a wide range of accessibility support, including sensory spaces, familiarisation programmes, visual guides, interactive training and digital information. For this next strand, I wanted to move away from simply asking what exists and focus instead on what autistic adults themselves are asking for.
Across recent autistic-led, participatory and adult-focused research, one of the strongest findings is that autistic travellers do not necessarily want “more assistance”. Instead, they appear to want greater control over uncertainty, with the freedom to choose how much support they use.
One of the largest recent autism-specific aviation projects is PATHS – Pathways to Stress-Free Air Travel for Autistic Passengers. The project used a mixed-methods approach, combining an online survey of around 300 respondents with three focus groups and co-creation involving autistic people, families, airports, airlines and autism organisations. It examined the journey door-to-door, from planning at home through to reaching the final destination.
The preliminary findings showed that stress does not necessarily disappear once somebody gets through security. Instead, it can remain high throughout the journey and accumulate, with particularly high stress around preparation and arrival/landing.
Participants highlighted the need for:
Interestingly, participants did not all want the same adjustments. For example, some may prefer to board first while others may prefer to board last, and some may prefer a discreet marker on their boarding pass rather than wearing a visible disability lanyard.
This is important because it suggests there is no single “autistic passenger experience”. Choice itself may be an accessibility requirement.
A 2024 study by Edwards et al. examined autism-friendly initiatives at Sydney and Gold Coast airports through interviews with 13 participants: 8 autistic adults, seven formally diagnosed and one self-identified, and 5 parents/caregivers of autistic children.
This is particularly useful for my project because autistic adults formed the majority of the sample.
The research found continued difficulties with sensory environments, preparation, access to quiet spaces, staff interactions, and recognising hidden disability needs, despite accessibility initiatives already being in place. Some autistic adults also described difficulties knowing who to ask for help or asking for assistance while already stressed.
This suggests that providing an accessibility service is not enough if passengers cannot easily find, understand or comfortably access it.