How to Take a Child With Autism on Vacation

Grocery shopping is a challenge. Dining out has become a distant memory. Taking a vacation with a child who has autism looks like mission impossible; but it is not. Your family can take that vacation and enjoy it. You just need a little help with the preparation and execution. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Mark your calendar, have a family discussion and a one-to-one with your child who has autism about the upcoming vacation at least 3 weeks ahead of the event. If you do not have a large wall calendar you need to get one. Calendars are great visual and special organizers for children with autism.

2. Consult your child's special education teacher for strategies specific to your child with autism. This will be helpful in your planning and less work for you.

3. Surf the Internet for pictures about your chosen location. Print out the pictures and staple them together in a book format. Read this "story" to your child with autism. The pictures must be of activities that he will do or at least see while on vacation. For example, do not include pictures of Universal Studios in the booklet if you are only going to Sea World.

4. Select a comfort toy for your child to take with them on the trip. The toy should be a high interest item for them and pocket-sized. It can be new or a toy you already own. The toy should be kept in a bag and only brought out during moments of moderate anxiety.

5. Slow down the pace and do not set a great deal of specific goals for the vacation. Be prepared to find quiet spots to allow your child with autism a moment to settle down and for you to collect yourself. If you know you want your child to experience something specific plan it for early in the day when your child with autism is fresh.

6. Continue with well-established routines as much as possible. Pack whatever materials you need to continue morning, meal and bedtime routines. This familiarity in an unfamiliar place will help your child with autism stay calm and enjoy the vacation.

7. Have a morning meeting each day at breakfast. Use this time to verbally and visually outline the activities for the day. Your booklet can be used if it is in the same order of the plans for the day's activities. Either way this will help your child with autism organize her thoughts.

8. Prepare your emotions for leaving a park or event if a timeout in a quiet place does not work. No amount of money is worth aggravating your child with autism unnecessarily.

Tips & Warnings

• If using an old toy for your child's comfort item, you will need to hide it from view at least a week before the vacation.
• Ignore other people, they just do not understand.

Resources

• Autism Society: Answers for Parents
• Materials and Books to Help with Your Child with Autism

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[invermont]

on 1/7/2009 (con't from above. I didn't realize there was a word limit, sorry)
.....most welcome to stay on our farm in Benson, Vermont www.falkenburyfarm.com

[invermont]

on 1/7/2009 If anyone is interested in a farm stay, I just read the 8 steps above, and feel like we could really help out with a few of them. If you chose to come to our farm, the photos on our website are quite recent and would show the children that live on the farm and many of the animals you would be able to meet if you wanted to. I could also take a few other photos and e-mail them to you so your child could get an even better idea of different things to expect? Also, since families have the guest house all to themselves, quiet time would be very achievable. There are also many spots you could walk to just to get away from all other activity if you desired. We could also be involved in a daily meeting to discuss things and help you plan other day trip ideas you may have.
Anyway, I just thought I'd add my 2 cents and let folks know that we'd be willing to help out if we could and you would be m