Discovery Flights
Eligible children will have the opportunity to experience a free 15 to 20 minute flight aboard a volunteer aircraft alongside a parent and/or therapist. For many families, it will be a first flight they'll never forget.
Free community event
Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Schaumburg, IL
Believe Above the Clouds
A FREE Fly Day Experience Where Children with Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities Can Explore Airplanes, Meet Pilots, and Even Take Flight.
Join us for a free, one-of-a-kind aviation experience at Schaumburg Regional Airport on Saturday, October 17, featuring discovery flights, 30+ aircraft to explore, sensory-friendly activities, bounce houses, games with prizes, raffles, lunch, and unforgettable memories for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, and the families who love them.
Free Admission · Free Lunch · Free Discovery Flights · Family Activities
Event details
- When
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Time
- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Where
- Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C), 905 W Irving Park Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193
- Cost
- Free (admission, lunch, and discovery flights)
- Rain date
- Saturday, October 24 (tentative)
- Hosted by
- Believing Is Achieving Autism Services and Holiday Airways Flight School
Everything included with your free fly day experience
A Day Full of Adventure, Discovery & Family Fun
From climbing into real airplanes to meeting pilots, enjoying lunch with your family, and making memories that will last a lifetime, every activity is completely free thanks to our incredible sponsors and volunteers.
Explore 30+ Aircraft
Walk the flight line, climb into cockpits, meet local pilots, ask questions, and experience dozens of incredible airplanes up close. A rare opportunity most people never get.
Family Fun Zone
Bounce houses, sensory-friendly activities, games, arts & crafts, and interactive experiences ensure there's something for every child to enjoy throughout the day.
Free Lunch & Refreshments
Enjoy complimentary food and beverages while relaxing with your family and connecting with other members of the community thanks to our sponsors.
Raffles & Surprises
Throughout the event we'll be giving away exciting prizes, hosting fun activities, and creating memorable moments for children and families.
An Inclusive Community Experience
This event was created to provide a welcoming environment where children with autism and other developmental disabilities, and their families, can simply enjoy a day together without barriers.
Support on the day
Designed by Autism Professionals. Built for Your Family.
Most community events try to accommodate children with autism. We built this event specifically for them.
Every volunteer supporting activities throughout the event is either a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) or another trained member of the Believing Is Achieving Autism Services or Health Docs teams. Supporting children with autism and other developmental disabilities isn't something we do once a year. It's what we do every day.
From the moment you arrive, our goal is for your family to feel comfortable, understood, and genuinely welcomed. Whether your child is eager to explore every airplane on the ramp, prefers to observe from a distance, needs extra time to warm up, or benefits from sensory-friendly supports, our team will be there to meet them where they are and help make the day a positive experience for everyone.
Presented by
Believing Is Achieving Autism Services × Holiday Airways Flight School
Schaumburg, IL
Register interest
We'd love to have your family join us.
Help us plan an unforgettable experience.
By joining our interest list, you'll be among the first to receive event updates, parking information, schedules, and details about discovery flight opportunities.
Registering also helps us plan food, activities, volunteers, and accommodations so we can create the best possible experience for every family attending.
- We email, we don't spam.
- Pre-registered children are prioritized for flights.
- Tell us anything that would help us plan for your family.
Registration happens on BelieveAboveTheClouds.com.
Sponsors
Powered by partners who believe in this mission.
Every experience at Believe Above the Clouds is made possible by sponsors who share our belief that every child deserves the chance to fly.
Presenting Sponsor
The Health Docs
Led by Dr. James Claussen, The Health Docs specialize in neurologically focused chiropractic care for infants, children, and families, with extensive experience supporting individuals with autism, epilepsy, developmental delays, and other special needs. Through a personalized, holistic approach to care, their mission is to help every child reach their fullest potential while providing an exceptional experience for the families they serve. We're honored to partner with The Health Docs in helping make Believe Above the Clouds possible.
General Sponsors
We're honored to be building this event with a growing group of community sponsors. General sponsors will be announced here as they join us.
Interested in sponsoring? Reach out through our Contact page.
Common questions
Is the event really free?
Yes! Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, Believe Above the Clouds is completely free for all registered families. Admission, activities, lunch, beverages, and all event experiences are provided at no cost.
Who is this event designed for?
Believe Above the Clouds was created primarily for children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. We also welcome parents, siblings, caregivers, and therapists to join in the experience and enjoy the day together.
Does registering guarantee a discovery flight?
Not necessarily. Discovery flights are limited by the number of volunteer aircraft and pilots available. Registering your interest on BelieveAboveTheClouds.com lets us know you're interested and helps us plan the event. We'll share additional information regarding discovery flight opportunities with registered families before the event. Even if your child doesn't participate in a flight, there will be plenty to experience throughout the day, including dozens of aircraft on display, meeting pilots, exploring cockpits, games, activities, lunch, raffles, and more.
How are discovery flight participants selected?
Because flight availability is limited, not every registered child will receive a flight. Our goal is to create the most meaningful experience possible while giving as many children as we safely can the opportunity to fly. Additional details regarding the selection process will be shared with registered families closer to the event. Only those that register will have a chance to actually take a flight.
Can siblings attend?
Absolutely! We encourage families to attend together. While discovery flights are reserved for eligible participants, siblings are welcome to enjoy the airplanes, activities, games, lunch, and everything else the event has to offer. This is an inclusive event open to all.
Can my child bring their therapist or support person?
Yes. Depending on aircraft availability and seating limitations, children may be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and, in some situations, a therapist or support person. More details will be provided before the event.
My child isn't sure about flying. Can we still attend?
Absolutely! Many children may simply enjoy walking around the airplanes, meeting pilots, sitting in cockpits, watching aircraft arrive and depart, participating in activities, and spending time with their families. There is absolutely no pressure to fly. We want every child to enjoy the day in whatever way feels most comfortable for them.
What activities will be available?
Families can look forward to: discovery flights (limited availability), 30+ aircraft on display, opportunities to meet local pilots, cockpit tours, bounce houses and inflatables, sensory-friendly activities, arts & crafts, games, raffles and giveaways, free lunch and beverages, and community organizations and vendors.
Will there be autism-trained staff at the event?
Yes. One of the things that makes Believe Above the Clouds unique is that the event was designed specifically with autism families in mind. Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and trained professionals from Believing Is Achieving Autism Services and Health Docs will be throughout the event to help support families and create a welcoming, understanding environment.
Is the event sensory-friendly?
We've worked intentionally to make the event as welcoming and accommodating as possible. While airports naturally include sounds from aircraft, families are encouraged to explore the event at their own pace. Quiet areas and sensory-friendly activities will also be available, and our trained staff will be on site throughout the day to support children as needed.
Will food be provided?
Yes! Complimentary lunch and beverages will be available for all registered attendees thanks to our generous sponsors and community partners.
What should we bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, hats or sunglasses, water bottles (optional), noise-reducing headphones or other comfort items if your child benefits from them as planes will be landing and taking off nearby (one of the most important items we recommend you bring), and a camera or phone, because you'll definitely want to capture the memories!
What happens if it rains?
Safety is always our top priority. If severe weather affects the event, we'll communicate any schedule changes or postponements to all registered families via email as early as possible. A backup date is scheduled tentatively for Saturday, October 24.
Where is the event being held?
Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C), 905 W Irving Park Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193. Parking information and arrival instructions will be sent to all registered families before the event. Be sure to register!
How long should we plan to stay?
The event runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, but families are welcome to arrive and leave as needed. Whether you stay for an hour or enjoy the entire event, we want your family to experience the day at a pace that works best for you.
Who is organizing the event?
Believe Above the Clouds is proudly presented by Believing Is Achieving Autism Services in partnership with Holiday Airways and an incredible team of volunteer pilots, sponsors, community partners, and dedicated volunteers who are passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for children and families.
Can my child attend even if they need extra support?
Absolutely. Every child is unique, and that's exactly why this event was created. Whether your child communicates verbally or nonverbally, uses mobility equipment, benefits from sensory supports, or simply needs extra time to warm up to new experiences, they'll be welcomed with patience, understanding, and respect. Our team is committed to meeting children where they are and helping every family have a positive experience.
About us
Why We're Doing This
Believe Above the Clouds was born from a simple belief: every child deserves the chance to experience something extraordinary.
As autism professionals, we've had the privilege of working alongside incredible children and families every day. We've celebrated milestones, witnessed remarkable growth, and learned firsthand how meaningful inclusive experiences can be, not just for the child, but for the entire family.
This event was inspired by the incredible work of Challenge Air, a non-profit whose mission of introducing children with disabilities to the joy of aviation sparked an idea: What if we could bring that same unforgettable experience to families here in the Chicagoland area?
For many children attending this event, stepping into an airplane will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In fact, many neurotypical adults never have the opportunity to fly in a small general aviation aircraft. We believe every child deserves the chance to see the world from above the clouds, experience the wonder of flight, and perhaps discover a passion they never knew they had.
Together with Holiday Airways, volunteer pilots, generous sponsors, and an incredible team of Registered Behavior Technicians and community volunteers, that vision became Believe Above the Clouds.
Our hope is that this becomes more than a single event. We hope it becomes an annual tradition that brings together families, the aviation community, and organizations that believe every child deserves the opportunity to dream big, explore new possibilities, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Meet the Founders Behind the Mission
Mariah Biscan, BCBA
Founder & BCBA
Mariah founded Believing Is Achieving Autism Services with one mission: to help children with autism reach their fullest potential while supporting the families who love them. Believe Above the Clouds is an extension of that mission, creating opportunities for children to experience joy, confidence, and unforgettable memories beyond traditional therapy.
Michael Zagurski
Director of Operations · Former Special Education Teacher · Pilot
As both a private pilot, former Special Education Teacher and now Director of Operations for Believing Is Achieving Autism Services, Michael saw an opportunity to combine two passions: aviation and serving children with autism. Inspired by organizations like Challenge Air, his vision was to create an event where every child could experience the excitement of aviation in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
Together, we believe every child deserves the chance to dream bigger, explore farther, and see the world from above the clouds.
See you on the ramp. Mariah and Michael
Not sure where to start? Neither were most of the families we work with.
Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation with Mariah. You'll get straight answers about ABA, your insurance, and whether in-home therapy is right for your child.