This past Saturday, May 10, we hosted the inaugural Autism Aviation Day at Kamloops Airport in collaboration with Air Canada, Jazz Aviation LP and the Air Canada Foundation.
This landmark event welcomed 20 families with children on the autism spectrum for a unique opportunity to experience the entire pre-flight process in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Autism Aviation Day is designed to help Autistic individuals and their families prepare for air travel by simulating each stage of the airport experience from checking in, to passing through security, boarding an aircraft, and more, without the pressure of a real trip. These practice runs help reduce anxiety and build familiarity with the travel process, creating a more predictable and accessible pathway to air travel for all.
“We are incredibly proud to bring Autism Aviation Day to Kamloops for the first time,” said Sarah Armstrong, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Canucks Autism Network.
“This event not only empowers individuals on the autism spectrum to experience the joy of travel, but it also strengthens our commitment to building inclusive community spaces.”
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CAN’s collaboration with Kamloops Airport, Air Canada, Jazz Aviation LP and the Air Canada Foundation demonstrates a shared dedication to improving accessibility within the travel industry. Staff from all participating organizations were on-site, actively engaging with participants to gain deeper insight into the needs of Autistic travelers.
“We are delighted to be participating in Autism Aviation Day at Kamloops Airport. These events are a wonderful opportunity for Autistic youths and their families to prepare for air travel by learning about and practicing ground processes in advance in a controlled and low stakes environment, which can help reduce the anxiety of unfamiliar procedures,” said Brigitte Saint-Pierre, Director Official Languages and Community Engagement. “Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation are committed to inclusivity and by supporting individuals on the autism spectrum, we can help show that air travel is accessible and welcoming.”
“We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to travel with confidence, and we are honoured to support families in the autism community,” said Teri Udle, Chair of the community investment program at Jazz Aviation LP. “It’s amazing to see so many industry partners come together to make air travel more accessible for everyone.”
In tandem with this milestone event, CAN is also excited to promote its newly released training course, Supporting Autistic Travelers, for travel industry professionals. This comprehensive, self-paced online course is designed to equip airport personnel, airline staff, and all tourism providers with the knowledge and tools to better support Autistic travelers and their families.
Online learning for travel industry professionals! Gain the knowledge to create welcoming travel environments for #Autistic individuals.
Take 20% off courses until Apr 30. Use code: autismacceptance 💻https://t.co/oIWvMiGrvN
Thank you to @YVRAirport for partnering with us to… pic.twitter.com/BpEPmkO5Vr
— Canucks Autism Network (@canucksautism) April 23, 2025
“The training course for travel industry professionals is an important step toward building a travel industry that is not just welcoming, but actively inclusive,” said Armstrong. “We invite all travel industry professionals to take this training and help create a more accessible future for everyone.”
Additional Links
CAN Learning Hub: Online Courses for the Community
Travel Industry Professionals: Supporting Autistic Travelers
Accessibility at Kamloops Airport
Accessibility Travel Resources at Vancouver International Airport