Traveling with Autism

April marks Autism Awareness Month, and we’re discussing how you can travel with autism. Whether you want to make a vacation for a friend or family member on the spectrum more enjoyable, or if you are on the autism spectrum yourself, we’ll outline some strategies to make your trip more enjoyable.

Whether you are on the autism spectrum or not, travel can be just as enjoyable as it can be stressful (sometimes more so the latter). Anxiety, sensory processing issues, difficulty sleeping, and more are all common traits that individuals on the autism spectrum deal with. It’s easy to see how these also carry over to affect other neurodivergent/neurodiverse people (individuals whose brain differences affect how their brain works), as well as those who aren’t.

Planning A Trip

First when planning a trip, it’s important to take several things into consideration. For the individual on the autism spectrum:

• What is their preferred daily routine?
• Are there foods they need to eat every day?
• What types of environments are they most comfortable in?
• Are they more comfortable in small groups or like meeting new people?
• Do they have any special interests or hobbies?
• Is being involved in planning a preference?

Once you have these answers, you can start to narrow things down:

• If they need to wake up at 8am each day, doing a tour that starts at 7am may not work.
• If they love granola bars, pack some in your suitcase and bring them in your backpack or purse each day wherever you’re going.
• If they love being in nature, a trip to a major city may not work.
• If they are uncomfortable around new people, a group excursion may not be best.
• If they love history, choosing a destination with museums and historical landmarks might make the most sense!
• If they love helping plan things, involving them in every step could be beneficial.

Before you decide on a specific destination, though, make sure to research. Look for information about the location’s culture & customs, language, food, best time of year to go, hotel accommodations, etc. Doing your homework can help not only prepare for the trip but avoid any surprises as well:

• Paris in the summer months won’t be a good option for someone who doesn’t like crowds.
• Needing to eat specific foods may narrow down the type of hotel (eg: boutique B&B versus an all-inclusive resort with several buffet restaurants).
• If they prefer to be more isolated, perhaps renting a home makes the most sense for accommodations.
• If they hate long car rides, you may want to take a plane, train or cruise. Likewise, make sure accommodations are close to the airport or train station, or ensure your cruise itinerary has easily walkable ports of call.

Using a Certified Autism Travel Professional (CATP) to help you plan your vacation may also help take some of the stress out for you! Or if you need ideas, take a look at our blog post outlining 10 Autism Friendly Cities to help give you some ideas for your next vacation.

Leading Up To The Trip

Involve your friend or family member as much as they would like to be involved. This could include them planning every aspect of the trip alongside you, or just weighing in on specific sites they want to see.

Make sure to walk them through the details whether they’re involved or not. A ‘virtual vacation’ of sorts will let them see all aspects of the trip before you go! This will minimize surprises, and also allow them to ask any questions or broach any concerns.

Once things start to fall into place, make a schedule. List the times you’ll be doing something, along with the activity/location, and have it readily available for them before and during the trip.

If you are flying, make sure the airline is aware, as well as the TSA (information below). Look into security and immigration programs like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR to speed things up at the airport. There are even programs with guides to escort you through the airport.

And before you leave, take stock of what will help make the vacation enjoyable! This could include buying noise-canceling headphones, ensuring your hotel has weighted blankets, or even packing their favorite snack & fidget spinner. Whatever it is, create a list you can refer back to while packing to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Tourism Industry Programs

There are also many tourism industry programs that could help – from independent groups to initiatives from travel brands. Some of these programs are:

Independent Organizations

• Wings for Autism / Wings for All – The Arc’s “program gives families and aviation professionals the confidence to take to the skies with ease by providing an airport ‘rehearsal,’ as well as a presentation on the aircraft features and in-flight safety protocols.”
• Sunflower Lanyard – While more popular in Europe, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower helps individuals voluntarily share they have a hidden disability.
• Autism Double Checked – An independent organization helping travel companies with their “autism-readiness.”

Airports

• TSA Cares – “A helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.” Be sure to reach out 72 hours prior to your trip.
• Sensory-Friendly Areas – Numerous airports are adding meditation spaces and sensory rooms that anyone can use. Some airports that have added sensory rooms are Pittsburgh International (USA), Phoenix Sky Harbor (USA), Seattle-Tacoma International (USA), Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson (USA), Shannon Airport (Ireland), and London Heathrow (UK).
• Airport Lounges – American Express’ Centurion Lounge at Houston added a wellness room in partnership with Calm.

Airlines

• JSX was the first airline certified by Autism Double-Checked, meaning all staff (from pilots & flight attendants to customer service agents) have been through training, and they produced a passenger guide to assist flyers with autism.
• Breeze has similarly partnered with Autism Double-Checked to train frontline team members on how to improve the travel experience for those on the autism spectrum.
• American Airlines, in addition to providing accommodations for individuals and groups, has an initiative called “It’s Cool to Fly American” (ICTFA) to prepare families for flights through mock travel drills.
• Delta operates their own familiarization tours at Atlanta & Minneapolis, as well as multi-sensory rooms in several airports, and assistance at the airport & in the air.

Hotel Brands

• Beaches Resorts is the first all-inclusive resort company in the world to complete the IBCCES’ rigorous Autism Certification. They operate advanced autism-friendly kids camps, recently launched Sensory Guides at its resorts, offers the Beaches Buddies program, and more!
• Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ entire portfolio has been certified Autism Ready by Autism Double-Checked, meaning every staff member at every resort has completed training.

Cruise Lines

• Celebrity Cruises offers autism-friendly experiences, from special menu options to film choices, a toy lending program, and even modified activities.
• Royal Caribbean similarly offers these experiences (especially since Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean), but they also offer complimentary on-demand access to The Autism Channel on board most of its ships.

During Your Trip

At the airport, make sure airline personnel are aware. They can help expedite security screenings, help get you to a sensory-friendly space, assist in pre-boarding, and more.

Don’t forget to take breaks. Schedule these regularly throughout each day to allow your loved one to decompress and recharge.

Traveling can be unpredictable, so be prepared for unexpected changes. Have a backup plan in case of delays, cancellations, or other disruptions. Be sure to be aware of what might soothe/calm those on the spectrum for moments like this.

But more than anything, don’t forget to have fun! You’re on vacation – it’s a time to enjoy new sights, connect with yourself & group, and simply enjoy.

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