Tips for an Autism-Friendly Family Vacation
Are you planning a vacation for your family and you’re not sure where to begin?
Although vacations are a fun way to escape reality and take an opportunity to reset, it can be a stressful planning experience for special needs families. Selecting an autism-friendly destination and preparing your family, making sure they feel comfortable, and knowing what to expect are just a few of the necessary steps to take for having a fun-filled family vacation.
Here are some helpful tips for preparing for your next vacation!
1. Find a Destination
Deciding on where your family will go is a big decision. There are a number of blogs, resources, and people you can speak to which will help you decide on an autism-friendly destination that also ticks the boxes of your families’ interests and budget. Incorporate your family into the decision process and ask everyone what kind of vacation they are interested in going on. Welcoming everyone to have a say in the decision will get your family more enthusiastic about the trip.
2. Vacation Countdown
Visuals are important and using a calendar to count down the days until your vacation might help your family feel less anxious, while also encouraging excitement for the big day. Starting at 2 to 3 weeks before your vacation date, share fun pictures of what you will be doing on your trip, where you will be staying and the areas you’ll visit. This will provide a visual understanding of what to expect.
Include Youtube videos of where you are going, where you and your family are staying, and what you will be doing.
Packing early and having them add in their own clothes to their suitcase leading up to the trip will allow them to feel a sense of control during the trip as well.
Allowing them to pick out some toys they want to bring that will help them feel less anxious during the trip, providing them with a little piece of home when they’re away
3. Rehearsals
Doing a run through on what to expect while on vacation is important. A ‘rehearsal’ allows your family to feel less anxious and is a time where they can be more prepared for the sounds and sights they might experience on vacation.
Walking around the neighborhood in what you will be wearing on vacation
Changing up your family’s schedule and doing things that you don’t normally do will allow your loved one with autism to adjust easier to the change in schedule when they are on vacation.
4. Teaching Stories
Teaching stories is a good way to prepare your family. They are brief, customized picture books or stories to help prepare and explain what they are going to experience on vacation and what to expect in some potential new social situations.
The pictures you choose to use can be animated or real life photographs of where you are going and what you will be doing.
Incorporating each activity in the social story, reading and describing each image to your loved one with autism can go a long way in preparing them for the new social situations they are going to encounter.
5. Create Your Own Routine
People with autism typically to do well with a routine or familiarity. It can be helpful to bring along any items, toys, or books to remind them of home.
The change of routine can be stressful. It’s important to incorporate their regular routine in your vacation schedule. Things like maintaining a sleep schedule and eating habits can be helpful with the adjustment.
Whether you are flying or going on a road trip, adding some surprises for them, like a new coloring book, new toys, or something you know they love will make them feel excited, distracted and less stressed for this trip.
6. Call Ahead
Whether you are staying at a hotel or traveling on a plane, calling ahead of time and speaking with a representative to give them a heads up about your families’ special needs can be helpful for when the time of travel comes.
a. For hotels, making sure the rooms are autism-friendly, having the room be a quiet part of the hotel, away from any loud noises that may be triggering.
b. For travelling by plane, if there are any open seats on the plane rather than being in a crowded row, the flight crew might be more willing to accommodate you if they understand your needs.
c. For activities, call before the trip and ask if there are any accommodations available for families with special needs. There is a list of resorts and vacation destinations here that have the best accommodations, sensory-friendly activities for families with special needs.
7. Travel Agencies
There are also many travel-related agencies that have accommodations for families that have someone with special needs.
If you and your child are taking an airplane, it’s a good idea to contact the TSA beforehand and ask if they have any accommodations for loved ones with disabilities as well.
TSA Cares: This is a part of TSA that supports and assists travelers with disabilities and medical conditions during the security process at the airport. Passengers with autism, for example, may be screened without being separated from their family, which can make a big difference for traveling with your loved one with autism.
Tourism: If you are planning on using a touring company for your vacation, it would be most beneficial to inform them of any special needs before your trip. That way, the company is aware and can accommodate the tourist experience according to their needs.
8. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Although planning the trip and making sure everything is in order can be stressful, the most important thing is to enjoy your time with your family– that’s what vacations are all about. Doing activities you know everyone will enjoy and setting a time during the day for relaxing.
Planning a vacation and going on a trip can be overwhelming for any family, however if you use these autism-friendly vacation tips above, you and your family will have a fun, stress-free experience!
We hope this information is helpful for you. You can find some other helpful links for vacationing with someone with autism below.