Birmingham Airport Rolls Out New Accessibility Training to Support Passengers with Autism
Birmingham Airport has rolled out new accessibility training for colleagues in a bid to equip colleagues with essential skills to support neurodivergent passengers amidst the airport’s busiest year for assisted travel.
Delivered in partnership with specialist charity, Resources for Autism, the detailed training programme outlines key strategies for airport representatives to employ when supporting neurodivergent passengers and their families.
Providing an in-depth overview on neurodiversity and what it encompasses, the specialist training programme focuses on empowering colleagues to support neurodiverse passengers in overcoming potential challenges that they may experience at the airport. Additional online inclusivity training will also be offered to all colleagues as part of the scheme.
The implementation of the training follows ongoing investment into enhancing the airport’s assisted travel service. Last month BHX announced a £3.2 million investment to improve accessibility with the roll out of twelve purpose-built modern ambulifts. Ambulifts are specialised vehicles used to safely transport passengers with reduced mobility to and from aircraft. Delivered in partnership with leading aviation ground equipment manufacturer, AVIOGEI, the new ambulifts will be phased into service over the next nine months resulting in a more comfortable and smoother journey.
Commenting on the training, Chris Wilson, Head of Terminal Capacity and Planning, said:
“Here at Birmingham Airport, we believe that travel can and should be accessible to all regardless of any disability, additional need or neurodivergence. That’s why, we’re delighted to have partnered with Resources for Autism to deliver new specialised accessibility training to all of our passenger-facing assisted travel staff. Forming part of our wider commitment to enhancing the accessibility of our airport, this programme focuses on challenging misconceptions around autism and neurodiversity, whilst effectively equipping colleagues with actionable strategies to better support our neurodiverse passengers. We continue to liaise and work with our Assisted Travel Forum, which features representatives from specialist groups, to ensure we are continually offering a service that enables travel for all.”
Davina Lockwood, Head of Behaviour, Training and Quality at Resources for Autism, said:
“We are delighted to be delivering this bespoke Autism and Neurodiversity training package to the customer facing teams at Birmingham Airport. So far the sessions have been a success with fantastic engagement and enthusiasm from all participants. We are looking forward to continuing to empower staff at the airport to feel confident in supporting all passengers to have the best experience possible.”
To find out more about our services for passengers with disabilities or additional needs, please visit the Assisted Travel section of the Birmingham Airport website here.