TAMPA, Fla. — It’s one of the busiest times of the year at the Tampa International Airport: the summer travel season. Airport officials said they are expecting around 65,000 passengers every day this month.

For many people, it’s stressful, and for people with disabilities, it can bring other kinds of challenges.

On Saturday, a nonprofit helped families with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities practice going through the airport.

The Harley family was one of many participating in The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation’s Wings for Autism event. Erica and Dwight Harley’s son, Amir, has autism.

“Autism isn’t always visible where you can really see that they have a disability right away. So, I think sometimes as he gets older, people are a little less understanding and maybe not as patient and understanding with that,” Erica said.

From the ticket counter to the airside shuttle and through security, this practice run came at the perfect time. The family is flying to Costa Rica on Sunday, and it will be Amir’s first international flight. Erica said that the practice will make it easier.

“He has an incredible memory, so actually showing him pictures and doing something repeatedly really helps him because when he gets the steps down, it’s like, ‘You skipped a step. Remember last time we did it this way, this way, this way’,” Erica said.

Beth Tasis, the Executive Director of The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation, said demand for this program was huge. When the registration went live, she said it was 75% full within four minutes. There were 50 participants, and each could bring two chaperones on the plane.

“There’s a lot of unplanned or unanticipated sensory stimulus that goes along with that,” said Tasis. “So doing it in advance gives people the opportunity to know what to expect, to prepare for that and to decide, when it is best and appropriate for their loved one to take that trip.”

After waiting at their gate, it was time for the families to board the plane. The Harley’s picked their seats and got Amir adjusted. His mom said Amir did a good job.

“He has a lot of energy, but he did really well and patient, and no outbursts, no meltdowns, it was pretty good,” Erica said.

Now the Harleys are ready to actually take off on their flight Sunday morning.

TPA does offer help to people with hidden disabilities with the Sunflower Lanyard program.

Anyone who may have a hidden disability and needs extra help to get through the airport can ask for the lanyard at the information kiosk in the main terminal.

The lanyard will signal to staff that one has a disability so they don’t have to ask for help.

The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation said it’s already working to make this event return next year.