The family vacation can be as simple as a trip to the nearest lake or beach or an elaborate trip to a long-desired destination. While families have traveled on vacations for years, trips become different when someone in the family has been diagnosed with autism.
But there are autism-friendly vacations available for families to take their kids. Some may cater to the specific needs of the individual, while others may be a small part of a larger vacation for the entire family. Let’s look at some practical tips for an autism-friendly vacation and top destinations.
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What are autism-friendly vacations?
People with autism spectrum disorder deserve to get out and enjoy their vacation as much as neurotypical people. But they will probably require different accommodations than those not on the spectrum. Autism-friendly vacations will include those accommodations to help address any issues that may arise while away from home.
These vacations often include a highly structured format to help autistic children stay in a groove. Many of these vacations may have scheduled quiet time to help prevent overstimulation and sensory overload.
Plus, many activities may be sensory-friendly in an effort to increase the fun for an autistic child without unnecessary stress on the child or the parents.
Tips for traveling with an autistic child
Taking a vacation with autistic children requires a lot of preparation. People on the spectrum tend to need more routine and structure, so it’s not easy to take a spontaneous trip.
It can require weeks to months of planning as well as extra plans in case something goes wrong and your child can’t handle the original plan. However, there is some practical advice to follow when planning an autism-friendly vacation that will make traveling easier.
1. Prepare and plan in detail
It’s important to research and choose the correct destination. For my younger son, loud noises are problematic, so we often choose outdoor adventures. These include everything from a beach with several lifeguards on duty to theme parks with disability accommodations.
We do our best to be outdoors. However, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we still find fun things to do indoors and bring a pair of noise-canceling headphones so my son doesn’t become overwhelmed.
We also involve our older son in the planning process. Our younger son is nonverbal and doesn’t request many things outside of seeing animals, but our older son wants to do and see more than just zoos and aquariums.
Whenever we decide to go on vacation, we discuss with him the places he would like to go and what he would like to do. He gets to be part of the planning process, which helps him understand why we can and can’t do certain things.
Once we know where we are going and when, we create a detailed trip structure. It may be just what we are doing that day or have exact times.
A few years ago, during a “staycation,” we visited several nearby areas for some fun. There were days when we had the whole agenda planned because we had timed entry into events.
On other days, we knew where we were going and could decide once we were there what we were doing in that area. While some days had more structure, every day still had a structure.
2. Explain the trip to your child
Your autistic child may only be accustomed to going to school or a family member’s house. This trip will be different, and while your intentions may be to provide them with a fun time, they may need it explained in detail before they truly understand the potential for fun.
You can use visual aids and social stories to help explain the trip to your child. For my younger son, we used pictures of where we were going and what we would do on a specific day.
One year, on a trip to St. Louis, we showed him pictures of a chess piece, food, and animals with a “first-then” model. We explained that we were going to the World Chess Hall of Fame for his brother, then lunch, and then to the St. Louis Zoo to see the animals.
It was an exciting day with no meltdowns, as we provided him with safe places to avoid sensory overload. You may also have to use these guides to explain about the travel to your child.
My younger son loves car rides, so all we have to do is tell him we will be in the car most of the day for some of the longer drives. He loves it. As long as we get out and move our legs, he’s happy.
For my older son, this requires something to keep his mind occupied. He understands why we have to drive so long, but he gets bored doing nothing. This is where tablets, video games, and fun games to play in the car help us.
3. Make sure you plan quiet time during the trip
Doing a lot on a trip can be overwhelming and lead to sensory overload, not just for your autistic children, but for you as well. Quiet time can be essential to ensuring everyone has loads of fun without entering into meltdown territory.
Some autism-friendly locations offer quiet rooms for your children to calm down if they get close to sensory overload. For those that don’t, you may have to create your own quiet spaces.
We have often turned our hotel rooms into quiet areas to help our sons maintain control of their emotions. When visiting a theme park, we often find benches away from some of the louder rides to relax and regain our bearings. Quiet rooms and spaces can be your best ally in making a trip fun for the whole family.
4. Don’t forget the comfort items
If you are away from home, your autistic children may find themselves uncomfortable in unfamiliar settings. Find a comfort item to take with you to give them a piece of home.
My younger son requires a chewy stuffed animal (usually a shark, dog, or dinosaur) and a blanket. Only you know what your child may require to feel more at home while you are on the go.
You may also need comfort food or a restaurant. On one trip to New Hampshire, my younger son fell asleep in the car. The next morning, he woke up in an unfamiliar hotel room. Even though we had all his comfort items, he still had a full-blown meltdown out of fear.
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I loaded him into our car, a familiar location for him, and found a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts, a popular donut and coffee chain in the Northeastern United States.
Once we were in the parking lot for the Dunkin’, he calmed down and started requesting donuts on his AAC device. He was in a familiar location with familiar food and was finally comforted.
5. Create a routine during the trip
As much as my wife and I would love to just get in the car or hop a train and go, that’s not feasible with kids, especially kids on the spectrum. Certain routines need to be followed to the letter to help your children understand the day.
On vacations, we try to find a hotel with a continental breakfast so our sons can eat before we head out for the day. We often schedule lunch around the same time, no matter what activities we have planned.
Your autistic children probably have a set routine at home. While you may be changing it up a bit because you are going somewhere out of the ordinary, you should try to keep as much the same as you can to help your children find comfort.
It may be as simple as having meals at the same time or returning to your hotel room at the same time each night. A simple routine can go a long way.
6. Choose the right destination
When selecting the best place for your autism-friendly vacation destinations, much research must be done to help you find the right place.
Is there an autism-friendly resort nearby? Does it have autism-friendly attractions? How do they treat autistic guests? Do they promote sensory awareness? Are there low sensory areas?
To ensure you choose the correct destination for your family, you will need to ask some of these questions, plus others specific to your child.
Autism-friendly vacation destinations
You can take plenty of autism-friendly vacations with your child, but you have to figure out which one they will enjoy the most.
Theme parks
Many amusement parks offer disability services that will help you with your child. These include special passes that can help you skip the lines if your child struggles with waiting and sensory-friendly rides with lower lighting and fewer sounds.
Sesame Place, a theme park based on “Sesame Street” with locations in Pennsylvania and California, is one of many certified autism centers in the United States.
Water park
Many children on the autism spectrum love water, but water can also be their worst enemy. A water park can provide the sensory play your child desires with the safety of lifeguards at every attraction. Great Wolf Lodge is one of the best with locations all over the United States.
Zoos and aquariums
If your children love animals like mine do, they may want to see all the animals they can. Zoos and aquariums offer special accommodations for your child to enjoy. Many zoos and aquariums provide sensory bags with fidget toys and noise-canceling headphones to help your child.
Autism certified city
Several cities around the world have been recognized as autism certified. Many others may not have the autism certification designation but still work with autism advocates to make their city more inclusive to the autism community.
Some of these cities in the United States include:
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Mesa, Arizona
- San Diego, California
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
If you vacation in other countries, research which cities may have received autism certification.
Be patient and understanding
Unfortunately, not all vacation spots are created equal, especially when traveling with someone on the autism spectrum. However, if you research and include your loved one in the planning process, you can find some of the best autism-friendly vacations.
Speaking from experience, once you have your plan, detailed routine, and a backup plan in case something goes wrong, you can have an excellent vacation no matter what obstacles get thrown your way. Plus, you will have a chance to see some awesome places and share them with your family.
FAQs
Q: What is the most autistic-friendly country?
A: When ranking countries through healthcare, education, autism awareness, and support, Sweden topped the list of most autism-friendly countries, followed by Iceland, Norway, Australia, and Canada.
Q: Can you take an autistic child on vacation?
A: Yes, children with autism have every right to go on vacation and see parts of the world outside their homes as anyone else. It may take a lot of research to find the places most inclusive of those on the spectrum, but it can be some of the most fun your child ever has.
Q: Can people with autism travel abroad?
A: Traveling abroad is difficult for anyone, but people with autism may experience increased challenges due to changes in routine, unpredictability, and unfamiliar sights and sounds. While it may be more difficult, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible. People with autism can travel abroad, but it may require extra preparation.
Q: Can autistic children travel by plane?
A: Autistic children can travel by plane, and special accommodations may be made through the passenger screening process so they won’t be separated from their loved ones. Some airlines also offer flight training for special needs people to help them get accustomed to what they must do before traveling by plane.
References and sources
Experiences of Family Vacation with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Leisure or Work Percutian Keluarga bersama Kanak-kanak Autisme: Riadah atau Kerja Fauzunnasirah Fazil, Er Ah Choy, Habibah Ahmad, Susheel Joginder Singh, Noordeyana tambi & Hamzah Jusoh, Akademika 92(1), 2022: 101-112 https://doi.org/10.17576/akad-2022-9201-08
Lorah, E.R., Griffen, B. Teaching Children with Autism Traveling Skills for using a Speech-Generating Device for Manding. J Dev Phys Disabil 35, 509–522 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-022-09863-8
Sarah E. Kohl, Elizabeth D. Barnett, What do we know about travel for children with special health care needs? A review of the literature, Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, Volume 34, 2020, 101438, ISSN 1477-8939, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.06.009.
Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse https://books.google.ba/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RWZsEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR6&dq=Autism+traveling&ots=90p9JoY5f6&sig=aJsBtrchemuwUJT1pp3grso5nBE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Autism%20traveling&f=false
