George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P Hobby Airport have rolled out free technology aimed at enhancing the airport experience for children with developmental disabilities and their caregivers.
The airports have partnered with Infiniteach to introduce the Access Houston Airports mobile app to help families prepare for their trip. The app offers a number of tools to help families transition through the entire airport, from arrivals to departures.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13% of the US population has a purported “invisible” developmental disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. “This percentage is significant, and equates to 20,000 daily Houston Airport users,” said Tim Joniec, Houston Airports managing director of Americans with Disability Act Coordination.
The app is embedded with research-based strategies proven to help individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Specific features include explorer guides that describe each space in the airport; caregiver support, including terminal maps, tips and more to help in planning a visit to the airport; and communication icons, to assist those who are less verbal.
To discover more about the new app, watch this video: