GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, the Appleton International Airport opened rooms unlike any other in the state.
“It’s exhausting, it’s stressful, you’re anxious about oh did I lose this you know,” said Matthew LaBerge.
Mitchell and Matthew LaBerge are brothers who have autism.
They cut a ribbon, opening an autism friendly quiet space for travelers in the Appleton International Airport.
“I went to Orlando three times and never seen anything like this, I studied abroad and the airport there wasn’t like this so this is a first time type of thing seeing this accommodating for people with autism,” said Mitchell.
“The Autism Society is shifting from awareness to acceptance efforts this April,” said Executive Director of the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, Kirsten Cooper.
In 2018, a CDC report says, 1 in 71 Wisconsin children have autism.
Cooper tells FOX 11 one in 54 people in the U.S. live with autism.
“Two quiet rooms, one before TSA and another afterward and its a place for individuals and families to go and they are feeling a little bit overwhelmed and they need a quiet space to relax and regulate.”
The room gives the autism community a place to get away from busy airport crowds and a quiet place to rest while traveling.
Cooper says the airport kept sensory sensitivities in mind.
“Sensory bags. They are individually wrapped and families can take them, they have little fidget toys inside and just to give kids something to do with a sensory experience.”
Cooper and the LaBerge brothers agree the room is a big step towards autism acceptance.
“They often feel very misunderstood and not always welcomed in community events and spaces so the Appleton International Airports showing that they support the community this way is huge,” said Cooper.
“Really good for the ones with autism especially before they go on vacation to have that quiet room to relax, meditate, whatever they need to do,” said Mitchell.
The LaBerge brothers hope this can be an example for other airports around the country.
The Appleton Airport says hundreds of people on the autism spectrum fly through Appleton. The staff has recently undergone training to better serve those individuals and their families.
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