Travelling with kids is never an easy task. The crowded airports, the queues, the possibility of delays and baggage, all make for a stressful experience at best.
But when travelling with a child with autism, that stress increases ten-fold.
That's the struggle that mum Angie Solis faced when travelling with her 13-year-old son, Zion, for the first time.
In a state of near-panic, she called ahead to the airport to see what provisions could be made for Zion at the airport.
"I was worried about airport security and how his anxiety would create a giant meltdown," she wrote in her now-viral Facebook post.
As she approached the security line with her son, her heart immediately sank.
"Hundreds upon hundreds of people waiting to pass security...and get on with their spring break.
"Fear struck me. Hard. My heartbeat quickened. I started to breathe faster. I looked over at my son and smiled, trying not to show my fear.
"He pointed at the long line and said, 'no thank you.'"
Luckily, their saviour appeared just in the nick of time. Aleesa, a passenger support specialist.
She banished the anxiety of of the security checks, which had been a major worry for the stressed mother. But more than that, she treated him as an equal.
"She spoke directly to my son. She treated him like a person with feelings and a voice and worth. With her super powers she lifted a divider, motioned us through, and escorted us to the front of the line.
"We went through a gentle security check where no one put their hands on us or even said much. We didn't even have to remove our shoes."
She then escorted them to their gate, saving further panic as their flight ws not listed on the board.
"Total time from the moment we walked in the front door to being seated at the gate: 14 minutes.
"Thank you TSA, from the bottom of my heart for making this experience stress-free. And for caring enough to understand that some people just process differently and need extra TLC."
To make the whole thing even better, Aleesa even received note for her caring and kind actions.
Since going viral, other parents have taken to the comments to share their own experiences of travelling with kids, and to thank those that helped them along the way.
Sometimes it's the little thing that can make a big difference to those with disabilities!
