Gold Coast airport now helping passengers with Autism

Gold Coast Airport has revealed new ‘life-changing facilities’ to help customers navigate some tricky situations.

Grace Welsh hates the airport, but now with sunflowers she has no reason to fear.

Grace, 3, has Autism. When her mum, Danielle Welsh, was planning a family holiday to Japan she was worried how Grace was going to handle Gold Coast airport.

Grace struggles with language, noise, bright lights, social skills, and changing from activity one to another.

But now Grace will receive a helping hand. Gold Coast Airport launched a hidden disability program yesterday to help Autism suffers navigate terminals without feeling overwhelmed.

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Danielle Welsh and daughter Grace, 3, who has Autism, with therapy dog Garry.

GOLD COAST AIRPORT EXPANSION IS ON THE ‘STRAIGHTY MCSTRONG’ ROAD TO COMPLETION

The airport staff are now trained, and terminal facilities have low sensory entries, rooms, bathrooms, and reserved seating at boarding gates. They will also extend their therapy dog program.

Passengers can pre-plan their time at the airport, including applying for a sunflower lanyard to receive extra help.

Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said around 90,000 passengers with Autism visit the airport each year and the program was desperately needed.

“Diagnosis and awareness of hidden disabilities are on the rise in Australia and we felt the need to not only acknowledge this fact but to act on it” she said.

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) said the comprehensive program was a world-first.

Danielle Welsh said: “the new resources are life-changing”.