About the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group

The Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group (DFAWG) is an international collaboration of professionals, academics, and volunteers in aging and dementia services and support systems, including present and former dementia care partners, and individuals who are living with dementia. DFAWG was formed in September 2018 after learning about Brisbane Airport’s dementia-friendly airport designation.

​DFAWG’s mission is to promote the definition and implementation of substantive dementia-friendly protocols in U.S. airports and airlines and the harmonization of relevant air travel regulations world-wide.

DFAWG’s goals are to emulate best practices airport and airline protocols supporting travelers with hidden disabilities. These include the following based on UK CAP1411 and CAP1629:

“Key guidelines for airports include:

• Airport staff, including security staff, should have hidden disability awareness training, as well as training to cover communication techniques.
• Ahead of travel, airports should provide clear and detailed information for people with hidden disabilities. This will help with overall familiarisation of the airport environment and help ease anxiety and stress. Communication should include a combination of accessible videos, photos and pictures of airport processes.
• People with hidden disabilities should have the option of wearing a lanyard, bracelet or other suitably designed aid provided by the airport to ensure they are easily identified by staff and can get the assistance they need.
• Airports should provide a quiet area to wait for flights and quiet routes through the airport, for example bypassing the retail area. This will make travelling through the airport less stressful and disorientating and will benefit those with sensory impairments in particular.
• Clear images and audio messages should be available throughout the airport to help passengers find essential points such as toilets, quiet areas and assistance points.
• People with hidden disabilities must never be separated from a parent/friend/accompanying person during a security search, and security staff must explain prior to the search what screening will take place and make any necessary adjustments.
• Airports should consider facilitating 'familiarisation visits' or open days for passengers prior to travel to help them experience the airport and aircraft environment.”

Source: New CAA guidelines: Making air travel more accessible for passengers with hidden disabilities | UK Civil Aviation Authority

• “Introducing family or assistance security lanes, which passengers with hidden disabilities can use, which provide a less stressful and rushed experience.”

Source: CAP1629 HD - FINAL 07JUN2018.pdf (caa.co.uk)

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DFAWG accomplishments to date:

• Traveling with Dementia – Airport Stories Survey
• Created a working definition of a dementia-friendly airport 
• Gathered a list of travel tips covering all aspects of air travel from booking to arrival
• Compiled a list of tools and resources that travelers may find to be helpful
• Compiled COVID-19 air travel policies
• ​​Developed a Best Practices document for security screening travelers with Dementia that was shared nationally with all TSA security personnel in October, 2020 
• Contributed information about the international Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program resulting in adoption of the program by Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport beginning November, 2020
• Continuing interviews with air travelers living with dementia and their care partners/travel companions

 
DFAWG outreach activities:

• Sharing ideas, materials, and contacts with other US groups working to make their airports dementia-friendly
• Participating in global efforts to improve and harmonize air travel for people living with dementia and their care partners/travel companions

Contact: 
​Sara Barsel, Ph.D. c/o DementiaFriendlyAirports@gmail.com

Updated 4.21.2021