WORCESTER, Mass. - Boarding a flight for the first time can be a stressful experience, and if your child has autism, family vacations depend on how they react to the new environment.

Fortunately, the Wings For Autism program makes flying easier for these children without having to leave the airport.

On Saturday, dozens of families stopped by Worcester Regional Airport for the event, where children with autism were able to experience all the steps to a safe flight.

Jennifer Ryan, the program’s coordinator, has been steadily growing its volunteer base and expanding to new airports for 13 years.

“This all got started from a family I was working with in 2010,” Ryan said. “Their son had a failed trip to Disney World because he would not get on the aircraft, and his mother, in tears, told me ‘I really wish we could have practiced.”

So, Ryan reached out to Massport and TSA, and by 2011, she was holding the first Wings For Autism event at Boston Logan Airport.

Since then, she said it’s grown far beyond what she had ever anticipated. This was the third event at Worcester Regional Airport, and the most recent visit was only four months ago.

This time, the program was back with more planes and more volunteers.

“When we first started this in 2011, I think we thought there was maybe, you know, 50 families that might want to do this,” Ryan said. “We’ve had thousands come through at this point. To see how much it's grown, even at this small airport, we now can see that there is a need for parents who want to practice in a smaller setting and don't want the large international airport at first.”

Families navigate the entire process from airline check in to security, waiting at the gate, and boarding the plane.

Mark Mojica and his son Stephen even took a few minutes to meet the pilot and pose for pictures.

“It’s a great experience, especially for a kid who has never flown on a plane,” Mojica said. “To give perspective to how they’re going to behave, if they’re going to like it or not. I think it’s very positive, and not only that, it inspires them to learn to fly a plane, see the cockpit and enjoy their time. I think it’s a great event.”

Airport Director Andrew Davis is grateful to have two additional airlines participating this time around, and grateful for all the volunteers who can make this day happen.

“Everybody from the State Police, Worcester Fire, Massport Fire, and the airlines came out to support this,” Davis said. “It could not have happened without the support of the volunteers, and it's helpful for them so that they can also experience how to interact with families, with children with autism.”

If you missed Saturday’s Wings For Autism, another will be held on Nov. 4 at Logan Airport from 9 a.m. to noon.