Dubai Airports Expands Autism-Friendly Training, Pioneering a Global Standard for Accessible Air Travel
Dubai Airports Enhances Autism-Inclusive Services
Dubai Airports has taken significant strides to provide a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse travelers, with a 36% year-on-year increase in specialist training for its staff. This training program, a key part of Dubai Airports' strategy, equips employees to support passengers with autism and sensory sensitivities.
Employees who complete this training are identifiable by wearing a sunflower pin, marking them as trained to assist persons with disabilities (POD), including those with autism. This training enables staff to provide tailored assistance such as guiding passengers through dedicated autism-friendly routes featuring lanes for check-in, passport control, immigration, and security screening, all marked with sunflower symbols for easy recognition. Passengers using a Sunflower lanyard can access these special lanes and receive support throughout their journey.
These initiatives align with Dubai's broader vision of becoming a Certified Autism Destination (CAD). In fact, DXB has already been certified by the Dubai Autism Centre (DAC) and is the world's first international airport to receive the Certified Autism Centre (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
The emphasis on staff preparedness and dedicated passenger pathways helps make travel less stressful and more inclusive for individuals with autism. Sensory-friendly lounges are available at both airports for autistic travelers, and trained Guest Experience Ambassadors, identifiable by Sunflower pins, are stationed at key points across both airports to assist autistic guests and their families.
Dubai Airports continues to set the standard for accessible travel, making inclusivity a cornerstone of the travel experience. During Autism Acceptance Month, Smart Gates and terminal displays of sunflowers are blue-lit to demonstrate solidarity with the autism community.
The expanded training program, now training 45,000 employees, includes Dubai Police, Dubai Customs, Emirates, flydubai, dnata, and Dubai Taxi Company as participants. Employees are trained in sensory awareness, effective communication, and anxiety-reduction techniques to ensure a smooth and stress-free travel experience for all passengers.
With these initiatives, Dubai Airports is not only providing a better travel experience for autistic passengers but also furthers Dubai's vision of becoming a Certified Autism Destination, a testament to its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
- Dubai Airports' ongoing education and training for staff in health-and-wellness, including mental-health awareness, is designed to ensure a stress-free travel experience for all passengers, particularly accommodating individuals with autism.
- Beyond just the airport, Dubai's broader vision of becoming a Certified Autism Destination encompasses science, lifestyle, and community, aiming to include and support those with autism during their travel and within the city.
- Autistic travelers can take advantage of Dubai Airports' health-and-wellness initiatives like sensory-friendly lounges and trained Guest Experience Ambassadors, as well as specially-marked pathways throughout the airport, promoting a more inclusive and accessible travel experience.
