For Immediate Release

April 10, 2018

Contact:

Elise Durham                                                                                      Andrew Gobeil 
Director of Policy and Communications                                    Deputy Director of Communications

(678) 920-0085                                                                                    (404) 227-2884                                       elise.durham@atl.com                                                                   andy.gobeil@atl.com

Hartsfield-Jackson, Delta Airlines To Host National Autism Awareness Month Event
Wings for Autism to help children, adults on autism spectrum acclimate to air travel

MEDIA – NOTE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW

ATLANTA – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) officials on Wednesday, April 11 will host Wings for Autism, an airport “rehearsal” specially designed for individuals with autism disorders – individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event is in partnership with Delta Air Lines, the Transportation Security Administration and The Arc Georgia.

The program is designed to alleviate the stress that families who have a child with autism or intellectual/ developmental disabilities experience when flying. It provides practice of entering the airport, obtaining boarding passes, navigating through security and boarding and touring a Delta jet. Wings for Autism also gives airport, airline, Transportation Security Administration professionals and other personnel the opportunity to observe, interact with these individuals and deliver services in a structured learning environment.

Wednesday’s event is expected to draw over 100 individuals from the metro Atlanta area.

WHO:                         Roosevelt Council, Jr., General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Nan Orrock, Georgia State Senator, District 36
Stacey Ramirez, State Director, The Arc Georgia  

WHAT:                       Wings for Autism event

WHEN:                       Wednesday, April 11

                                    10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (press conference)

                                    11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (participants board and tour Delta Aircraft)

WHERE:                     Concourse T

                                    Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Media to meet in Domestic Terminal atrium

                                    6000 N. Terminal Parkway

                                    Atlanta, GA 30320

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS:

As this event is post-security, media must submit names and dates-of-birth for security screening by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 10. Please email information to media@atl.com. Reporters covering the event will meet in the Domestic Terminal atrium no later than 10:20 a.m. for escort to the event. 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, serving more than 103 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 U.S. destinations and 70 international destinations in more than 50 countries. ATL boasts a direct economic impact of $34.8 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70.9 billion in Georgia. The Airport is the largest employer in Georgia, with more than 63,000 employees. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, sustainability, architectural engineering, and construction. ATL is now in the midst of a multi-billion dollar capital improvement plan, ATLNext, that will modernize the domestic terminal and concourses, create new parking decks, construct a 440-room hotel, Class A commercial office space, add a new runway, new concourse and expand cargo facilities. For more information, visit www.atl.com.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS

For HD broadcast quality b-roll of airport operations, events and generic interior/exterior shots, click here to view our ATL Video Newsroom: https://vimeo.com/atlairport/channel