5 Quick Tips for Traveling with Autism
Have you begun to plan a spring time get away for your family? Maybe you are planning to visit family or have a vacation spot your family has been going to for years. Whatever your reason for travel, we understand it can sometimes be a difficult transition for those with autism. We have complied a few tips to help make traveling more enjoyable for everyone.
Story Time
Create a social story about your trip and read it together, maybe as a bedtime story to help familiarize with the idea of going somewhere new. If possible include pictures of the actual place you are going. (google images is a great place to start). Discuss some of the new things they may encounter such as subways, taxis, planes and any travel form they do not see on a consistent basis. Planning ahead is key to creating a sense of familiarity and helping establish a feeling of security in the new environment.
Make Planning Fun
If your trip includes an airplane, practice what you will encounter such as metal detectors, close quarters sitting, and waiting in lines. One idea is a fun role-play game where you take turns walking through a “happy detector” and pretend to be airport personnel. This may help ease some of the anxiety of the “new” and help make a task that is often unnerving for everyone more bearable.
Tune It Out
If your journey requires visiting a crowded place such as a train station, airport or other gathering place, a set of noise canceling headphones or even disposable ear plugs would be a great item to have handy. Preventing overstimulation can be difficult for busy places, but being prepared is a great place to start.
Distractions Are Your Friend
A long car ride does not often top the list of fun things to do for anyone, let alone someone who has a hard time sitting still or needs things a certain way to function. This is the perfect time to break out the favorite iPad apps, sensory toys, movies, songs and of course snacks. The key to making a long car ride enjoyable is the participation of everyone. Creating a fun and relaxing environment will benefit all, and can make the car ride something to look forward to.
Don’t Forget
Lastly, remember to enjoy your trip. It is easy to worry about the what ifs and what nots, but try to let it go – you are on vacation after all. Everyday life will be waiting for you to get home, so make the most of your journey. Take a deep breath, snap a few photos and make plenty of warm memories.
These are just a few travel tips we hope will help you make memories and not meltdowns. We would love to hear your travel stories and tips!
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