Right to Flight for All Abilities

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to bring to your attention the events that occurred on April 17, 2009.

My mother, my seven-year-old twins and myself were scheduled to depart on April 17th, Orlando to Newark New Jersey.  My twins, a boy and a girl, have autism.  My daughter, after flying 6 times, began having anxiety about walking through the gate to the entrance of the airplane.  She successfully took the flight to Orlando earlier in the week without an issue.  Prior to the return flight home, I contacted the airline and informed them that I would be traveling with two children who have autism and requested that we be permitted to board first so I could have time to transition my daughter to the airplane.  They said that should not be a problem. 

 At the airport, I asked an employee, for this same request and he also said there would not be a problem. Thinking everything was settled I proceeded to go and buy water; not knowing what would ensue.  The airline employee thinking we were boarding for a flight to New York asked my mother to board with my son and she did as she was told.  When I returned I immediately noticed that my mother and my son were gone and were aboard a flight heading towards JFK airport without having shown a boarding pass.  Because of this mishap they obviously had to leave that airplane. Other employees, were only concerned with the time, schedule of the flight, and then began to question if my son had a disability; " He has autism too?"was stated making me feel that  I was lying about my children's disorder.  I ask what human being would make up such a lie!

When our flight to Newark began the boarding process, we were not called first as promised.  Passengers with assistance and ones traveling with children were called to line up.  We were in Orlando at the end of a holiday vacation week and nearly all the adults on that flight were accompanying children.  The line was extremely long and my daughter's anxiety increased and she started to cry.  The request I had made was not honored as promised. We were overlooked because the staff was upset from the mishap before.  So, instead of boarding first to ease the transition, we were then told to board last.  If the airlines staff was knowledgeable and understood autism, they would know that this direction and order would add to my daughter's anxiety.  We obeyed and stood aside while my daughter became more and more agitated and upset.  Knowing my daughter traveled successfully to Orlando a week before I was sure that if we were allowed to go first and sit down on the flight this situation could have been avoided. Another employee assisted us and offered a wheelchair; however, my daughter did not want to go into it.  Then two kind gentlemen at the gate offered to carry her to her seat.  One manager was called at this point and denied us this resolution because neither man was a family member.  I was beside them and I gave them verbal permission.  During this time the doors were closed and the flight took off.  Another manager was called and would not provide us with any kind of resolution. We did receive a refund for the one way ticket back home, only after we threatened to report this to Autism Speaks.  We also received a 40-dollar voucher for food.  We were then left to our own devices.

 Also, a Department of Transportation Officer was never called upon to assist in this matter, even though we should have been because my children have a disability. In 2001, the assistant director for Aviation Consumer Protection emailed to all major airlines that employees needed to understand and take steps not to discriminate against people based on their race, ethnicity, or religion. 

My family then had to begin the process of getting back to New Jersey ourselves. As my mother waited in an extremely long line, to rent a car, both of my children had to once again endure another transition causing more anxiety. Once the voucher was given, there was no assistance from the employees!  With no clothes and shelter, as our belongings were now on a flight back to NJ without us, we had to provide for these necessities too. During the confusion we lost personal items, time and money.   My children are on a special diet and a medicine regime that had to be seriously altered for the next 1200 miles of travel. The medicine they both needed medically were in our suitcases back in New Jersey.  Even though my children endured the trip home the damage that was caused emotionally is still being felt by all members of my family. My daughter continued with her emotions as we tried to ease ourselves back into our routine.

I am also requesting the training of all staff.  Please support my petition and make a negative situation into a positive one.  As one of the nice gentlemen who assisted me said "This is not going away.   I want this to touch all disabilities; no one should go through what I had to endure!

Sincerely,

Lauren Suske

Co-Founder CLEVER MOMS of Children with Autism