Travel with an Autistic
Jan 18th, 2008 by Study Abroad
You need to travel somewhere with your child who is autistic. The key for a succesful vocation is preparation!
Going somewhere require a preparation for both non- autistic and autistic families with children. Preparation has a different meaning for autistic family.You should read everything about the place you are going but also you will need to prepare your children for the trip.
Preparing an autistic child for vacation should begin with an understanding of their core problem areas. If sensory issues are a problem, then you need to address them. For example, an amusement park visit may require headphones/earplugs for a child with audio difficulties. If you child is on the gluten free/casein free diet, then reserve a room with a refrigerator. That’s simple, right?
What about preparing your child in other ways? Perhaps a social story discussing issues that come up on the ride — like hitting your sister or singing the Mickey Mouse theme song 91 times. Rent a video of your destination for your child to watch. Order a DVD from the tourism bureau. Or a library book on the destination. If they use visual schedules, then prepare a visual schedule.
Also think through the location. The beach is a family favorite but could be an issue for any child. The sound of the waves, feel of sand and wind, taste of the water, bright sun — all together equals sensory overload. Maybe you put sand in a bucket and dip their feet in? Or you can buy a wave CD and play it at night for a few weeks before you leave. And if worse comes to worse, you divide and conquer. One parent takes the sibs to the beach and the other to the pool. Or you all visit the pool together.
Taking the time to prepare can help you anticipate several problems. This will allow you to roll with the problems you didn’t anticipate.