Autism Travel Tips and Strategies to Maintain Everyone’s Sanity
June 24, 2009
There are lots of challenges when traveling with an autistic child. There are no magic tricks, but you can avoid lots of risks through staying flexible and planning ahead.
Knowing your child’s peculiarities is particularly important. Understand what your child’s limitations are and don’t push them beyond what they can do.
Keep treats for positive reinforcements. Reward good behaviors to divert your child’s attention whenever he becomes restless or stressed.
Always have a plan B. Most parents with an autistic child think two steps ahead.
Try not to pack too many activities in one day. Ensure that there are plenty of breaks in between activities to prevent your child from becoming over-stimulated. If you are eating out for a special occasion, try doing the same activity in your hometown for 1-2 weeks. Don’t wait until the special event to see how everything will go.
Surround your child with the familiar. Make sure that everything is as close as possible to your child’s usual routine. It may help if you bring with you familiar stuff such as his favorite toy or book.
Orient your child as to what to expect. Be consistent in reminding him about the planned activities for each day. Knowing what lies ahead will surely provide lots of comfort for your child.
You may be granted special considerations in airlines, hotels, or amusement parks if you inform them in advance about your trip. Bringing a stroller for kids or a wheelchair for an older child minimizes exhaustion.
When it’s really necessary for you to fly with your autistic child, notify the flight attendant early on. Make time to explain your situation to the people surrounding you. It is best if you talk to a flight attendant to place your family in an area of open seats.
If your child is on a special diet, make sure to bring food for him or her. It is also wise if you check if the food establishments or the hotel where you’re going offers food that is suitable for your child.
Bring mp3 players with headphones loaded with your child’s favorite music. Music has a calming effect for most autistic kids. DVD players can also help make a long car trip fun. It’s best if you are always prepared of the unexpected. Granted, there will be unexpected situations. But the best part is knowing how to properly handle them.
If you think that there is “something not right” with your child you must find out as soon as possible if autism is the issue. Treatments are less effective with each passing day as we grow older, so find out now with the complete autism resource for determining symptoms and goes into depth about ALL treatment options for autism, natural AND medical. Includes a mountain of information concisely written to cover all the important topics such as symptoms, all treatments, training and teaching information for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Treatments and training becomes less effective as the child ages, so do your family a favor and check out the ultimate autism guide at Autism Symptoms.
You can also make extra money to help pay for treatment and training by telling people about this helpful resource. You earn $26.30 for each book sold, so start making money by clicking Autism Symptoms Affiliates
Comments
Got something to say?