I am autistic with auditory processing disorder and I get confused by the 4 questions they ask at the gate when I request preboard. Because social situations and speaking up for myself are already hard (bc of my disability) I requested assistance for a cognitive disability when I bought the tickets and then told the gate agent “I would like to request preboard because of my disability” and I couldn’t answer her follow up questions.

She told me that people take advantage of preboard and because they have 9 wheelchairs all they could offer me was “extra time” because “physical Disabilities require preboarding.” I overshared all about my disability (which is a symptom of my disability) having to prove myself to her while being emotionally disregulated from the overstimulating environment and situation.

I cried and cried and tried to reason with her that “I’m a grown woman crying at your desk, I know I look normal but my brain is not normal.” I became nonverbal and unable to form my thoughts into words (because of my disability) and eeeked out asking for someone from disability to come help me and she just printed out preboard passes for me and handed them to me while I collected my things and went to the bathroom, embarrassed and overwhelmed.

I boarded and was using deep breaths and EFT tapping to calm my nervous system after my meltdown (which I was trying to avoid by asking for preboard). The other desk agent told me I needed to not be in such disarray (quietly breathing to myself and tapping on my chest while tears were coming down my face) or they would have to “pull me off the plane”- which was terrifying and made me cry more.

An event like this takes a major toll on my physical, emotional, and mental health. I cried my first whole flight, I’ve been crying my whole layover, I had to schedule an emergency appointment with my therapist, and I will likely have to be in bed for three days after my body shuts down from being in trauma response while traveling today.

Anyone else?