So yours truly was over at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which was a real treat because KLIA has introduced their new initiative known as the “Butterfly Effect”

This initiative is to give passengers with hidden disabilities – i.e Autism, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Global Development Delay (GDD), Sensory Processing Disorder etc – a more comfortable, safer, smoother and friendlier journey with the wide, thoughtful range of facilities and services dedicated to them…

The “Butterfly Effect”, part of the airport operator’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative aims to provide a more relaxed and manageable airport experience coupled with special professional assistance from the airport ground staff to this specific group of passengers..

Among the facilities and services provided include priority access and lanes at all major touchpoints, a Calm Room and sensory walls installed across the terminal..

Malaysia Airports believes that similar to the Butterfly Effect theory where a small change in one state can result in a big difference at a later state, the introduction of these facilities is a start towards creating a memorable and less stressful journey for these special passengers…

In conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day, the airport is also offering mock airport journey experiences called ‘The Butterfly’ s Adventure’ for passengers with hidden disabilities and their families to familiarise and acclimatise themselves with the airport experience and environment…

Yours truly got a chance to do so and it was a truly fun and enlightening experience getting to experience the whole airport journey from arriving at the airport, checking -in, going through security screening until you enter the boarding gate, no passport required..

These practice runs offer actual scenarios and will help participants to familiarise themselves with the procedures as well as the locations of all the Butterfly Effect facilities…

Afterall, familiarity with the airport journey is essential for those who prefer or want a more manageable traveling experience, especially for once the borders reopen again and when we can travel as we used to…

The Malaysia Airport team, together with the very supportive airport community will bring the participants through the processes that take place prior to boarding the plane…

These pre-arranged tours will be held fortnightly for five families per session and those who want to participate can register online through the website…

Being a Caring Host, Malaysia Airports team understands how daunting it can be navigating through an airport can be for some people, especially those who has autism or parents with a fretful autistic child, and the Butterfly Effect initiative is a way to promote inclusivity, so that everyone can have a joyful experience at the airport while traveling..

Passengers who want to use these facilities must first register at https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/airport-amenities/services/butterfly-effect 3 days before their flight.. They will also need to bring with them their official Persons with Disability (OKU) card or a letter from any hospital or clinic confirming the disability…

Upon arrival to KLIA, just proceed to the Customer Information Counter to receive a complimentary Butterfly Kit. The kit contains a Butterfly lanyard and information pertaining to the Calm Room facility as well as locations of the Sensory Walls…. The passenger or their guardians are required to wear the lanyard for easy identification by airport ground staff who have been trained by the Autism Behavioural Centre (ABC) on how to facilitate such passengers. Lanyard wearers and their guardians will then be given priority access at all major touchpoints and Butterfly Effect facilities, from the kerbside of the terminal entrance, right up to the boarding gate…

The Calm Room, a main feature of the Butterfly Effect initiative is located on Level 5 at Terminal 1, KLIA… It is an enclosed safe haven shielded from outside noise to sooth passengers with sensory issues.. It is a quiet space where the passenger can feel relax, feel secure, and be safe…. And it is equipped with multiple activity stations to keep them happily occupied…

You can find 10 sensory walls across both terminals (6 in Terminal 1 and 4 in Terminal 2) that provides endless exploration for special passengers through tactile, visual and auditory play…