Wings for All® gives people with intellectual and developmental disabilities a flying “rehearsal” and educates aviation professionals on how to support them
Wings for All® participants
March 4, 2025
Media Contact:
SJC 408-392-1199 | sjcmedia@sjc.org
San José, Calif. – On Saturday, March 1, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) together with its partners, Alaska Airlines, The Arc, Wings for All® and supported by PACE(Pacific Autism Center for Education), SJC Happy Tails and local TSA Caresrepresentatives, co-hosted 40 families for a flight “rehearsal” to introduce the experience of air travel to people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This was the first Wings for All® event hosted at SJC since 2017.
After a rehearsal check-in and TSA screening, passengers boarded the 9 a.m. Alaska Airlines “flight” and taxied around the runway for approximately 20 minutes before returning to the gate.
B-roll from the event is available HERE and photos are available on request. (Content may be credited to Alaska Airlines and San José Mineta International Airport).
The Arc founded Wings for All® in 2014 and has held more than 180 events to make air travel more accessible. The goal is to alleviate the stress and unfamiliarity of air travel for individuals and families, and educate TSA, airport and airline personnel on ways they can support travelers of all ages with IDD.
Air travel for people with IDD can be overstimulating and overwhelming. The change in routine, noise, unfamiliar surroundings and crowds can cause meltdowns, shutdowns and distress. What’s worse, people with IDD are often misunderstood and flagged for suspicious behavior. Because of these realities, most of this population is so intimidated that they don’t even attempt air travel. Yet everyone deserves to travel. That’s why Wings for All® exists – to open the doors of the world to individuals with IDD and their families.
About San José Mineta International Airport (SJC): Fly Simple
Fueled by a culture of innovation, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the Bay Area’s easiest and most dependable Airport due to its medium size, simple layout, temperate climate and location. SJC is located just minutes from downtown San José – the Bay Area’s largest city and the Capital of Silicon Valley. SJC is a self‐supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. In 2024, SJC welcomed nearly 12 million passengers and was rated California’s top-performing airport for on-time departures by Cirium. SJC currently offers nonstop service to more than 40 domestic and international destinations. The Airport’s two fixed-base operators, as well as several corporate aviation tenants, serve the business aviation needs of Silicon Valley; corporate and general aviation traffic represents more than a quarter of aircraft operations at SJC. In 2024, SJC celebrated 75 years of connecting the Bay Area with the world. For more information and to connect with SJC on social media, visit flysanjose.com.
