Ahead of Memorial Day Travel, Transitions Highlights Albany International Airport’s Inclusive Program to Make Flying Easier for the I/DD Community

ALBANY, N.Y. – AAA estimates almost 44 million people will travel more than 50 miles over the Memorial Day holiday. As transportation hubs gear up for increased traffic, Transitions, a premier college and career program designed for young adults with autism, learning differences or other disabilities, is proud to partner with the Albany International Airport, a leader in providing supports for travelers who experience challenges when flying.

The airport’s Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program delivers a seamless experience for families, alerting airport staff of a disability in a respectful, discrete way. Families simply check in and are given sunflower lanyards to wear. This signals to airport employees that a traveler may need more time, information or accommodations.

“At Transitions, we encourage our students to live independently, and part of that includes travel. Over the course of the years, I have dropped off countless students at different transportation hubs and am continuously impressed and grateful for Albany Airport’s dedication and sensitivity through its Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program,” said Penny Rivenburg, Transitions division director. 

Hidden Disabilities launched in 2016 at Gatwick Airport in England and has partners internationally. It’s clear this program is needed. Based on a study by Autism Travel, 97% of families are not satisfied with their options with 93% of families saying they would go on vacation more if autism certified options were available.

“Each year millions of individuals with hidden disabilities travel by air and were proud of our Internationally recognized efforts here at ALB to help ease any challenges they may experience and allow them to gain independence,” said Philip Calderone, CEO of Albany International Airport. “The Sunflower Program helps airport personnel quickly recognize travelers with hidden disabilities who may require additional assistance and support. We thank Transitions for their partnership and helping remind travelers about this important program available to Capital Region travelers.”

“As the parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I was nervous about putting him in a potentially uncomfortable situation,” said Ryan Kinder, Transitions’ senior manager. “My son Kasen had a lot of questions leading up to our trip but was immediately reassured by airport staff who took note of his lanyard. They allowed us to board early and took the time to introduce themselves to Kasen. It was a smooth, enjoyable experience and now, Kasen loves to fly.”

Transitions encourages other travel partners and providers to offer a similar support system and hopes to bring awareness and acceptance across the travel industry. Anyone interested in learning more about Transitions can visit transitionsusa.org

About Transitions: Transitions is a premier college and career program uniquely designed for young adults with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, nonverbal learning disabilities and other learning differences. Crafted from evidence-based programs, the Transitions curriculum is grounded in internationally-recognized approaches that set students on the path to college and career success and a life of independence. The program offers full-year programs, summer, week-long and weekend programs at its main campus located in Mayfield, New York and Albany’s Capital District. For information about Transitions and its Albany program and location, please contact (518) 775-5384, email admissions@transitionsusa.org or visit transitionsusa.org 

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