Children with special needs treated to unique travel experience at Miami International Airport
MIAMI - One month before the busy Thanksgiving travel week, Miami International Airport hosted its second MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness (MIAair) Tour of 2023 for 25 children with special needs.
"So, this is huge for him. I think this is so far the best day of his life," said Barbara Torres's mother.
Barbara Torres told CBS News Miami that her son Marcel loves planes and for the first time he is sitting in one.
"This is amazing," said Marcel.
Not only is it amazing for Marcel, but also for more than two dozen children with special needs.
"Our goal is for anyone, regardless of their disability to experience the magic and wonder of flight and that's what we're doing here today," said Ralph Cutie, MIA Director.
Since 2015, Miami International Airport has hosted the rehearsal tour where children with special abilities, along with their families or guardians take a mock American Airlines flight taking in the whole experience from checking in at the ticket counter, passing through security, walking down the terminal all the way to their gate and inside the plane.
"I think it's nice how they're giving this experience, you know, to kids who have more challenged abilities and how they're showing that they can still live normal lives with their challenged abilities think it's very cool that they're doing this to help us," said Jordan Harris a passenger.
A learning experience for all these families whose lives may now be ready to take flight.
"So, but yeah, we hopefully this is the beginning of being able to travel," said Carol Hansen, a parent.
Not only was this a learning experience for the families and the children but also for airline and TSA employees. Aside from the rehearsal tours, there are also 2 multi-sensory rooms for children with special needs.
