International Approaches to Neurodivergent Airport Accessibility
After looking more closely at Heathrow’s Flight Ready Programme, I wanted to widen my research and explore how airports internationally are approaching neurodivergent accessibility. Rather than looking for one airport that is doing everything “best”, I chose examples that use different types of design and support, including sensory mapping, interactive training, connected accessibility services and sensory spaces.
Gold Coast Airport has partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to develop support for autistic and neurodivergent passengers. Its approach includes the Sunflower Lanyard, therapy dogs, a terminal sensory map, communication boards, Social Stories and a 360° virtual airport tour.
The Terminal Sensory Map is particularly interesting because it identifies areas with low, medium and high sensory levels, allowing passengers to make more informed choices about their route through the airport. The terminal also includes low-sensory facilities and sensory-friendly spaces.
Gold Coast also uses communication boards combining pictures, icons and text for passengers who may find verbal communication difficult. This feels relevant to my previous research around giving people alternative ways to communicate without relying entirely on speaking to staff.
The Written and Visual Social Stories are particularly relevant to my own ideas. Their videos show passengers what different parts of the journey will actually look like, including the security process and scanners. This is close to my earlier idea around visually explaining the body-scanner process through a memorable movement such as “tree” and “star”. Finding an existing example means I can now ask what this type of video already communicates successfully and whether there is any need for a more interactive or memorable approach.
The airport also provides a 360° virtual tour, which connects directly with my interest in airport rehearsal from home.
YVR has worked with organisations including the Canucks Autism Network and Pacific Autism Family Network to create resources intended to build confidence before travelling.
The I CAN Fly with YVR resources include a step-by-step storybook, checklist, airport map and travel advice. These explain the routines involved before, during and after flying.
The most interesting resource for my project is YVR’s Interactive Travel Training Series. Rather than simply watching what happens, users help an autistic traveller move through situations including check-in, security, boarding and customs. The user can interact with scenarios and observe the results of different choices.
This is very close to the type of interactive rehearsal I have been considering. It makes me question whether VR is necessarily required, or whether an interactive training experience could provide some of the same benefits through a more accessible platform.
I would like to investigate how much choice the user actually has within the training, whether situations can be repeated, whether unexpected changes are included and whether the resource has been evaluated with autistic adults.
Dubai’s approach feels different because accessibility appears to be designed as a connected system, rather than one individual intervention.
Support includes Sunflower routes, specially trained Guest Experience Ambassadors, priority routes through stages such as check-in and security, an Assisted Travel Lounge, a visual Travel Planner, travel rehearsals and the DPNA booking code, which allows an assistance requirement to be communicated through the booking system.