| A family vacation should be relaxing and fun. It | | | | accommodate a family with a child diagnosed with |
| should be an opportunity for family members to | | | | Autism. One of the common accommodations is |
| connect and enjoy each others company. All too | | | | to allow Front of the Line Passes for our |
| often, a family with a child with autism finds | | | | families. In order to get one, they usually require |
| taking a family vacation too stressful. More and | | | | a letter of diagnosis from your child's doctor. |
| more, family vacations are vacations for | | | | Below is a list of Autism friendly vacation |
| everyone except the child with autism. | | | | destinations. For more specific information about |
| I am the mother of two children. My daughter is | | | | each, please refer to my Autism Friendly Vacation |
| five and a half. My son is ten. My son is also | | | | Destinations post on my blog. |
| nonverbal with a diagnosis of severe autism. | | | | 1. Sesame Place, located near Philadelphia in |
| This does not stop us from taking vacations | | | | Langhorne, PA, only 90 minutes south of |
| together. I have found that, with well thought | | | | Manhattan. |
| out planning, we have a terrific time together on | | | | 2. Challenge Aspen in Snowmass, Colorado |
| family vacations. | | | | 3. Disney World |
| The first thing parents need to do when planning | | | | 4. Busch Gardens |
| a vacation is determining the destination. For all | | | | 5. Sea World |
| families, this means concentrating on family | | | | 6. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa |
| friendly, children friendly destinations. It is the | | | | Claus, Indiana . |
| same for a family with a child diagnosed with | | | | 7. Vacation Home Rentals |
| autism. You need to determine what your child's | | | | 8. Smugglers' Notch Resort in northern Vermont. |
| interests are and what kind of places bring your | | | | 9. Surfer's Healing Based in San Diego, 2009 |
| child the most joy. If you have more than one | | | | camps will be held in California (several locations); |
| child, choose the interests that they share. Once | | | | Virginia Beach, VA; Wrightsville Beach, NC; Belmar, |
| you have determined one or two common | | | | NJ; Montauk, NY. |
| interests, you are ready to select a destination. | | | | 10. Autism on the Seas |
| Your next step is to determine how far you wish | | | | 11. Leaps...n...Boundz - " ‘Community |
| to travel to your vacation destination and | | | | Adventure Weekends' |
| whether or not you will drive or take a plane. I | | | | 12. "Finger Lakes Wellness Center and Health Spa |
| recommend driving. Once you are on a plane, | | | | (in conjunction with Hickory Hill Family Camping |
| you can not get off until the plane lands and is | | | | Resort) |
| ready to disembark. Children that are confined | | | | 13. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in |
| for a long period of time in a closed in | | | | Sarasota, FL. |
| environment, get bored, irritable, and may | | | | Another important consideration when planning |
| become unmanageable, depending on their age. | | | | your vacation should be where you are planning |
| A child with autism is most likely to feel all those | | | | to stay. You can stay at a hotel or rent a |
| things and more. Depending on your child, you | | | | vacation home or condo. I prefer renting a suite |
| could be looking at a full blown meltdown. | | | | at a hotel that has a kitchenette and separate |
| You want a vacation that is low in stress. There | | | | bedroom for the adults. It costs a little more, |
| is no such thing as a completely stress free | | | | but it allows me to fix meals for my picky eater |
| vacation for any family. If you expect one, you | | | | and a separate bedroom allows me a place to go |
| will be disappointed. The key is to accept this | | | | when I need time for myself. |
| fact and to minimize the opportunities for stress. | | | | Now you can plan a great vacation for your |
| Driving to your vacation destination allows the | | | | family. I would like to finish this article with a |
| parent control over their environment that riding | | | | few final suggestions to help you. |
| on a plane does not. You can stop at any time | | | | - 1. Pack some favorite items/toys for your child |
| and allow your child to get out and stretch his | | | | - 2. When traveling by car, take a lot of breaks. |
| her legs. There are a lot of rest areas on | | | | Make use of the Rest Areas along the Highway. |
| Highways that have picnic areas. These are | | | | - 3. Prepare your child for your vacation. Talk |
| perfect for giving your child an opportunity to run | | | | about it and show pictures of your destination to |
| off excess energy and for everyone to eat and | | | | your child. |
| grab a drink. | | | | - 4. Make sure you have a letter of diagnosis |
| Now that you know how far you want to go for | | | | from your doctor. Also make sure you have all |
| your vacation, whether to drive or take a plane, | | | | emergency medical information packed. If you |
| and what kind of vacation destination will interest | | | | have medicines, make sure you have enough for |
| your child, you are ready to pick a destination. | | | | the whole trip. |
| The internet is a great resource to start with. | | | | - 5. If you use a schedule at home with your child, |
| You can search on your area of interest. If you | | | | make one for the trip. |
| are looking at a vacation that includes a theme | | | | - 6. Pay attention to the cues your child has for |
| park, contact the theme park guest relations and | | | | alerting you how he/she is feeling. It is always |
| ask them their specific policies for children with | | | | better if you can head off a meltdown before it |
| Autism. Theme Parks may not post on their site | | | | starts. This is not always possible, but just one |
| their specific policies, but do have one in place to | | | | less is a good thing. |