By Jaime Wong, Marketing & Communications Intern
May 8, 2025
At SJC, we believe that travel should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we recently teamed up with our partners at Alaska Airlines, The Arc, Pacific Autism Center for Education, our SJC Happy Tails volunteers and representatives from TSA Cares for a heartwarming Wings for All® event.
Wings for All® is a nationwide program started by The Arc in 2014 to support people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It gives participants a chance to do a full “practice run” of the airport and flying experience, making travel less stressful for them and their families. The program also helps train airport and airline staff on how to better support travelers with IDD. So far, it’s been hosted at more than 180 airports across the country!
Airports can be busy, loud and overwhelming – especially for individuals with IDD. For many Wings for All® attendees, it was their first time stepping into an airport, checking in or going through TSA screening. The unfamiliar routines, crowds and sensory overload often make flying an overstimulating experience, which is why many individuals with IDD avoid air travel altogether. Wings for All® helps change that by creating a safe, supportive space to get familiar with the airport experience and make flying more accessible .
This was the first Wings for All® event held at SJC since 2017, and it marks an exciting step forward in making travel more inclusive. The event was a success thanks to the collaboration of many community partners who are committed to ensuring that everyone has the chance to explore the world.
Known for our easy layout and on-time performance, we continue to live up to our motto: Fly Simple. With events like Wings for All®, we’re dedicated to helping more people fly confidently and comfortably.
Want to see how it all unfolded? Watch their journey and discover more about Wings for All® and the amazing work The Arc is doing.