Autism Travel

Planning a Family Vacation

April is World Autism Awareness month, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about what it is like being a family with autism. Additionally, travel can be difficult with a child on the autism spectrum because it takes them completely out of their comfort zone. Of course, all our kiddos are different, but things like routine are needed and preferred. So the thought of taking them somewhere new can be a little overwhelming. I have come up with a few things that you could do to help to plan your vacation so that your entire family can enjoy yourselves, and you can all get to experience somewhere new.

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Autism Travel: Plan, Plan, and Then Plan More

No doubt that as a parent, with children on the Autism spectrum or not, you are likely to be planning ahead a lot of the time. And for travel, planning ahead is another aspect of what you need to be doing. Thinking about how long you will be away and the specific things that you will need is really important; everything from wipes, snacks, diapers if needed, medications, clothes, favorite toys, and so on. It isn’t much to carry around, but these kind of essentials are going to be a must on any trip, but definitely when you’re going to be away from home.

If you are going for a while, then you are likely to need even more. Making a list of what you will need literally day by day can help you to have some peace of mind that you have packed all the essentials.

Autism Travel

When it comes to the actual travel part of the trip, there may be a million questions going around your head. If you are driving somewhere, then it will be something that they are a little more used to. But what about air travel; will the noises and new experience be too much of sensory overload? Will your children stay calm on a flight, and even worse, what if there are delays that prolong the trip? Of course, it is not possible to do a practice run on an airplane, so in some cases you might just have to explain what will happen ahead of time, to give them time to prepare. Watching videos may help give your child an idea of what is going to happen. Additionally, many airports have days that you can bring your child to acclimate them to the process of flying.

If your children like to have things like headphones that will keep the sound out, then that can be helpful to have those things with you. Make sure to check for the list of things you can and cannot bring on a flight.

Planning a vacation with a child on the autism spectrum

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Bringing the Comfort of Home

There will be clothes and other items that are going to help your children feel comfortable away from home, as well as any medications or comfort blankets and toys. But having some other comforts of home can be a really good idea. This could be from looking for private property for rent instead of a hotel, so that you all have your own space, to taking some of your own foods so that you know you have something for everyone.

This can be a good tip for anyone with allergies too, as you don’t always know what you will find at a new restaurant. It can depend on where you are traveling as to what else you can take, but bedding or a comfort toy that your child is used to can be really important for that added comfort.

Keeping Safe While Traveling

Not every family will have to factor in extra planning over keeping safe because of children that like to wander off, but some will, so it is an important aspect to cover. If you do have a child that likes to walk/run away and doesn’t really sense the danger of doing so, then it can be very alarming, especially in a place that you don’t know well or at all.

The wandering potential can be one of the scariest things to think about when planning a trip. You might need to call ahead to check on things like door alarms, and you could also think about taking some door wedges or items that you use at home to stop your child from wandering. One time, I literally slept in front of the hotel door because our son kept trying to open the door and leave the room.

It can be a daunting task and it can seem easier to stay at home. But getting out and about with your entire family can be a great way to make memories and have some quality time together. It just takes a little planning to get away as stress-free as possible. When you are beginning to travel, it may seem like it just isn’t worth it, but believe me when I say, several years into the process, you will begin to see the benefits and be thankful you put in the hard work when your child was younger.

Our family believes in autism travel so much that I write about it often. But we would be thrilled if you shared your traveling stories with us. Drop a comment below or to be a guest blogger, email me at [email protected].