FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Delta Regional Partner Flight Attendant Goes Above and Beyond for Deaf Passenger
Old Jul 15, 2019, 5:12 pm
  #9  
CarmenOM
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,774
This seems like a good thread in which to post about the Navigating MSP program, in which Delta plays an important part. This program, usually on the first Saturday of each month, is aimed particularly at families who will be traveling with a child/children with autism, but open to families and adults with any disability. Even adults with extreme fear of flying sometimes attend.

The operation of the program relies on the Autism Society of Minnesota, the MSP Administration, MSP Travelers Assistance volunteers, TSA officers, and Delta staff, including ground staff, flight attendants, and pilots. The families or individuals participating in the program come to MSP for a trial run of taking a trip. Accompanied by airport volunteers the participants are given gate passes to get through a TSA checkpoint, receive special attention and explanations from TSA officers while going through the screening, are told of resources in the airport that may be helpful (e.g., quieter areas of the airport), go to a gate, and board a Delta aircraft. Once on the plane Delta flight attendants and pilots talk to the participants about what they will experience on a flight and give advice about techniques to help deal with flying. At least two of the pilots have kids of their own on the autism spectrum and talk from their experiences as parents. The kids who attend this program receive gifts —- stuffed animals, certificates, wings.

Families and individuals can participate in this program as often as they want before a flight or even without ever taking a flight. There is one developmentally disabled man of about 30 who comes with his parents every month because he loves airplanes.

This program is one of my own favorite activities as a Travelers Assistance volunteer at MSP. It is heartening to see the kids, who face all sorts of special challenges every day, become more comfortable with the airport just in two or three hours.
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