Many parents can not even consider the idea of traveling and enjoy a family vacation with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although not all children with ASD the same behavior, most are only comfortable within the confines of a very structured, predictable. Changes in routine and environment can produce anxiety and collapses, so many parents to give both family vacations together, or let their child with a caregiver qualified, while the restfamily vacation.
But it must be so. Well, I'm not an expert in the field - I'm just a parent, has been done, and I learned a lot on the road. With a lot of preparation (because there were no - this needs work), our family will be able to enjoy many holidays together.
By now you are probably (out of sheer necessity) to be an expert to anticipate the needs of your child and preparing to respond to future challenges. The first stepis to every aspect of your travel itinerary as airlines (or other forms of transport such as trains, buses or cars), hotels and attractions search. When booking flights, for example, always let the airline know that you are using a particular individual needs to be away, and require pre-shipment. This is not enough, but once we arrived at the gate, make your child, the operator gate and remind them that they need help.
I recently learned this lesson the hard way - ifTo change a target, it was announced that you only get 10 minutes for a new port about half a mile away. Because I had lost the previous step, we ended up desperate race through the airport with suitcases and was followed by the collapse inevitable. I would like to inform the assistant gate when we arrived, they were able to arrange transportation for us, the new port. Unfortunately, Sea-Tac - I understand why they are not particularly welcome back ...
I also research all aspects ofAccommodation. My son loves to swim and use the hot tub. It has a swimming pool? How many hours in the pool and fitness center open to children? It has a small refrigerator (children with ASD are notoriously rigid in their diet and only eat certain things - it's worth ensuring that your comfort foods are readily available). Once we were invited to a luxury fishing lodge with a group of families with children with special needs - I called ahead to see if there televisions in the room. Good thingI - because there are no televisions or radios or clocks in the lodge. So we packed her portable DVD player and a couple of DVDs, because at the end of a hard day, are held together with my son needs to relax away from all the downtime.
This brings up another important point. Recognize that wherever you go, your child will need a private room to take a break to retire to the social world stim. Plan ahead. I as much as 360-degree view of the leftTo anticipate the time of booking hotel rooms, where exactly you can create a quiet place for my son to retreat. When he was younger, they were behind the curtains of the bay window room with a couple of pillows and a book all that he needed to seek asylum.
Once the path is specified, create a book for your child is laying down in pictures and words. We are lucky, a computer program called Boardmaker and a laminator, which have been shown essential for this - check withYour local autism society for access to them, if not your own. We interpret literally every day, the tourist image of it, including the creation of avatars for families / friends, we are able to combine all the activities and the accompanying story, which assured him that not only have fun, but also because it is a holiday, it's time to relax and not worry about changes in the path. Run the idea that factors such as time can mean we need to change plans and thatOkay. We then have all the step by step strategies known to relax. We asked him to leave the book weeks in advance and go through them together, usually twice a day, practicing self-calming techniques together.
Whether you are traveling by car, or take the train or the plane is safe for your child with ASD has a backpack of essentials - Favorite-sti toys, DVD player or cassette player with headphones, books, snacks favorites. While this is common senseto travel on any child, is particularly important that children with ASD, because blocking the ability of the environment should reconsider their need to be overcome. For older kids - it's worth checking their bags and suitcases to see what they have packed. Until they were arrested by security forces, I had no idea that my son is hiding a metal-Clock was shaped like a dachshund in his luggage. In the scanner, it is almost like a gun ...
If you plan to visit everyAttractions, amusement parks, aquariums, etc., worth in advance for your child's doctor to write a quick note to inform you that your child has a disability and not wait in line with fear. March directly to the customer service when they enter the parks / attractions, and the presence of the note - most have special pass to your child and the persons accompanying him / her to bypass the line up, or allow the use of special inputs . Sometimes it will give you a discount too. Keep an extra copy of Dr NBYour luggage - are needed!
To book, not your holiday. Be aware that your child is easily overwhelmed with ASD. If necessary, a parent can always take a break with him / her, while other family members head out (or continue to enjoy) attraction. There's always a next time - you do not need the peace that you have worked so hard to create sabotage.
Above all - enjoy! As you approach the holidays with fear, feed your child with ASD will surely be of yourFear. Be assured that as a possibility for now possible to plan your adventure and can cope with a positive attitude. They have the tools to handle any situation. You'll find that joy is to create special memories for the whole family - even your child with autism.
