This is the time of year when families are gearing up for spring break adventures or planning their summer vacations. But as a parent of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, have you had so much difficulty travelling with your child that you have had to forego a traditional family vacation? Or would you not even entertain the thought of a family vacation because you can imagine just how difficult it would be? The very idea of travel, which entails seeing new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people, is completely at odds with the needs of many people with Autism, who thrive on well-established routines in order to feel secure. 

In a highly publicized incident this past June, a mother and her young son with Autism were kicked off of an American Eagle flight departing from Raleigh-Durham airport because of the child's behavior. As a  parent travelling with an Autistic child, you may have to resort to creative strategies in an attempt to have a successful vacation. For example, you could choose a destination that offers an appealing environment for your child. If your child likes water, make sure the resort has a pool or go to the shore. If your child has a fascination with a Disney Character, plan a Disney Vacation. If your child does not do well with crowds, you may choose to take your vacation off season and drive instead of having to deal with the long lines in the airport. And if your child adores trains, you may want to take a train trip.

Because of the recent increase in awareness of this condition, a small but growing number of tour operators, travel agents and resorts are offering getaways geared towards families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. These trips offer families the ability to travel with their child in a way that meets the needs of the whole family. For example,  the hotel chain Microtel Inns & Suites has won awards from disability-rights organizations for going above and beyond the requirements of the law to welcome guests with disabilities. The "Autism on the Seas" trips from Alumni Cruises, a booking agency in Shelton, Conn., have tripled the last two years, far outpacing the company's other theme-based voyages. Adam's Camp, a Colorado organization that provides camp-style sessions at Snow Mountain Ranch for children with disabilities and their families have added weeks to their program because if its increased popularity with families of children with Autism. It has recently begun a program on Nantucket and may add additional sites in the future. At Smuggler's Notch in Vermont, the majority of the participants in a program for people with special needs have been diagnosed with Autism, and they will provide one-on-one care if needed. 

The statistics show that once families of children with Autism find a destination that works, they are much more likely to go back in subsequent years. This tactic tends to work with children with Autism, as they can predict their activities from year to year. "Social Stories" (a strategy created by Carol Gray and available through Future Horizons (817) 277-0727) can be employed to help increase the predictability of events, and priming is another strategy that can be of tremendous help. You can review itineraries, daily schedules, and even act out the whole trip over and over before you go. A picture schedule can be created that the child can carry with them in order to orient themselves at any time. In addition, it is helpful to request a letter from the child's physician describing the child's condition, which you can then carry and produce for authorities if you get into trouble waiting in long lines or such. It also helps to take familiar toys, foods that your child can tolerate (especially if on a gfcf diet) , and even videos that can be watched while travelling.

If you have used a particular travel strategy that has worked, I invite you to share it by posting a comment to this blog.

Blessings,
Mary