She has no problem walking right up to people and saying “hi.” But what is a hurdle you consistently run into when traveling with her?ĭonna: I’m concerned I’m going to lose her! We travel a lot. So, traveling with her sometimes can be great, and sometimes, you just never know.Īllison: Katie is so friendly with everyone. My daughter loves to ride rollercoasters, and Katie actually does very well on planes because it reminds her of a roller coaster and gives her a serotonin boost. We live in Birmingham, Alabama, now and travel quite frequently. Autism is a spectrum and there are varying degrees. Let’s start by having you tell us a little bit about Katie.ĭonna: Katie is 30 years old and is severely autistic. Don’t forget to come back and get me on Wednesday.” She figured it would be the same crew from her last flight.Īllison: That sounds like her! I’m sure she was happy they didn’t forget. She actually walked right into the cockpit on our flight and told the crew, “Hi, I’m going to Disney World. And it’s timely because we just took Katie to Disney World, so travel is very fresh for us. She graciously agreed to answer my questions on what it’s like to travel as the parent of someone with autism, share advice for other parents and customers who may find themselves on a flight with someone on the spectrum, and provide insights on how the airline industry can better support accessible travel.Īllison Ausband: Hi Donna, thanks for doing this.ĭonna Renfroe: I’m honored to do it. For the last 30 years, I have watched Donna and her family work tirelessly to give Katie all that she deserves and navigate a life that has brought many unexpected turns.Īpril is World Autism Month, and as a family of frequent travelers, I know Donna has a valuable perspective to share. One of Donna’s daughters, Katie, is now 30 years old. One of my best friends, Donna Renfroe, also lived there, and we’ve been lucky to raise our children together. It was a place where people came together to support one another every day.

I grew up in McDonough, Georgia – a tight-knit town outside of Atlanta.

A day in the life of delta white