07/17/2026
Yesterday I had the chance to go behind the scenes at Appleton International Airport as part of my role on the Outagamie County Board. I came away even more impressed with what our local airport is doing for this community.
There are so many cool things, and one program that really stuck with me is Wings for Autism. ATW is one of the few airports in the country with a program specifically built for travelers with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Families come to the airport for a full "rehearsal" of air travel, without ever actually flying anywhere. They check in, get boarding passes, go through TSA security, and board a real plane… giving kids and their families a low-stress way to practice the whole process.
I’m so proud of what we have right here in Outagamie County, and grateful to the Appleton Airport (ATW) team for the tour and for the work they're doing to make travel accessible for every family.