Flying with an unseen disability: navigating sensory overload

Following my stroke in 2013 and three subsequent TIAs one of my deficits is sensory overload. This affects me every single day and is brought on by myriad of stimuli; for some reason flying is one of those things. This means I need to book Special Assistance and a wheelchair for when we get to our destination.

I am one of those survivors with unseen deficits so am often met with disbelief when I say I've had a stroke. That disbelief is magnified when I try to explain how I can go from being a capable, mainly independent, person to one that requires a wheelchair and assistance with communication.

This video shows what I go through when I fly.

Preparing for the journey

When I made the video the Sunflower Lanyard wasn’t available whereas now I always wear it.

I always ask to be boarded first as the movement of the air-bridge can affect me as can if I’m standing on the plane waiting to get to my seat. Generally when I get on board the person who is in charge of Special Assistance will come and check why I need it but I also will ask when boarding, when they are ready, to send someone over to speak to me. I explain to them what is likely to occur and ask them to let the other crew know so that they don’t get scared about what’s occurring. I also let them know if any of the crew have any questions to come and ask me.