Life for parents in our position can throw up a number of challenges, in this article we explore taking an autistic child on vacation.

Vacations are usually a time for excitement and joy but for some people they can be a cause for anxiety.

That anxiety can be for parents or the autistic child themselves. Firstly let’s break down why a vacation may be stressful for an autistic child.

Why taking an autistic child on vacation may be tough for them

Each child with autism has their own strengths and challenges. With that said however there are some common trends, many of which would be impacted by a vacation.

Break to routine

Probably the most challenging aspect for a child with autism will be the breaks to routine.

As we all know, routines and predicability can be incredibly important for autistic children.

This predicability will range from daily schedules to sleeping arrangements. Now when considering a vacation nearly every daily routine is broken.

The room will be different, the cutlery will be different, the toilet will be different. You get the picture.

So with all this change in place a vacation can be stressful for a child with autism.

The food

Another really common challenge with autistic children is their rigid preferences when it comes to food.

Many parents in our position are faced with giving their child the same or very similar meals every day.

These dietary consistencies can be a challenge when it comes to vacations. Naturally it will depend on the distance you’re travelling and crucially if you are staying in the same country.

But it is likely that you may struggle to source and prepare the same meals for your child.

This can lead to anxiety and stress.

Travelling

Taking an autistic child on vacation is likely to involve a fair degree of travelling.

Some parents will insist on vacationing somewhere which is a drivable distance away.

Others will bravely take their child on an airplane.

But whichever the case your child will likely be contained in a small area for a decent length of time and this can be challenging.

Tips for taking an autistic child on vacation

Through various conversations, comments and support groups we have compiled the below tips to consider.

Prepare in advance

With all the breaks to routine in place we would really recommend you to do some prep in advance.

From weeks or even months out from your vacation you can start preparing your child.

You can start by showing them pictures or videos of your destination, even making it a daily ritual.

From there you can elaborate and start explaining about the journey to your destination.

Again, show your child videos of what an airport looks like if relevant to your trip.

Many parents have had success with a schedule board for the day of travelling. You can show your child how you’re having breakfast, then getting a taxi, then a plane etc.

All of this is just preparing them for the upheaval and change which is coming their way.

Choose your destination wisely

We would all just like to be able to throw a dart at a map and choose the nearest resort.

But for parents in our position some thought will need to go into the decision.

Things to consider will include factors like travelling time, the heat, access to familiar foods and alike.

We would recommend for the first vacation with an autistic child to start small.

You could attempt a few nights away at a relatively nearby destination. From there you’ll be able to gauge your likely success in travelling further afield.

Access support

The world is far more accommodating to neurodiversity than it ever has been.

As part of your preparation you can seek out destinations and transport methods who cater for autistic children.

You’ll be amazed at some of the lengths companies go to in order to support parents like us. Facilities such as queue jumping at theme parks can transform a trip.

Airlines also have policies in place where you can board planes first or last if that is something which would help.

There are also resorts which are solely dedicated to children with special needs.

Lastly speak to your child’s school. They may be supportive in you taking your child out during term time.

The reasons why this may be helpful include that resorts will likely be quieter. In addition they can be cheaper meaning you could for example get bigger rooms for your family.

When deciding on a destination look up in advance how accommodating they are for children with special needs.

If you have any suggestions for other readers, please include them in the comments below.

Take some comforting items

Whilst there will be undoubtedly some big changes to your children’s routines, you can help them to feel comfortable in other ways.

Depending on your child’s preferences, consider bringing a selection of their favourite items.

These could be toys, cutlery, straws or even a toilet seat. Don’t laugh too much at that last suggestion, a family told that exact story at a support group session!

The story goes that their son will only sit down on a particular folding toilet seat. So rather than go through the stress, they put it in their luggage and took it with them.

You can also consider bringing food items depending on customs rules and luggage space.

Summary – Taking an autistic child on vacation

Taking an autistic child on vacation can be a wonderful experience. Seeing your child play and enjoy themselves away from home can be very rewarding.

With that said however there are horror stories which we have heard also.

Our advice would be to seek advice from other parents, prepare in advance and start relatively small.

Good luck everyone and we hope you have a wonderful vacation.

Any tips or ideas?

We would love to hear from you if you have got any techniques or ideas for our readers to try.

Be sure to leave a comment if any of the above has helped or if you have any ideas we can add to this article.

Also be sure to search for any other articles you might find helpful.

Try for example searching below for topics like ‘meltdown’ or ‘communication’.