Advice on Traveling With Autism and for Parents of Neurodiverse Children
Schedule some post-flight downtime: When you get off the plane or arrive at your hotel, take some time to let everyone run around, chill out or do whatever they need to do to relieve the stress, said Jordana Izzo, the director of accessible travel at the travel agency Travelmation, who is the parent of a child with autism.
Preserve happy memories: Take photos and make a book of happy memories to reinforce positive associations with travel, Ms. Izzo advised. And if things go awry, “you will get through it,” she said, adding, “Don’t let what might happen take away from what could happen” — the opportunity for a vacation together.
For Everyone:
Choose the right boarding time: If you need extra time to get settled and perhaps get engrossed in an activity, share your needs with gate agents and let them know you need to board early. Board with a later group if you don’t want lots of people streaming by, or don’t want to spend extra time in your seats.
Minimize on-the-fly decisions: Decide in advance where in the airport you will eat, what you’ll do if there are delays and where you’ll sit at the gate (a seat with a view of the tarmac may be less stimulating). Avoiding decision fatigue can make things feel less overwhelming, Ms. Auker said.
Seek out help: Autism Double-Checked, an organization focused on helping travelers with autism, offers a list of hotels, airports and destinations that have staff trained to support travelers with autism. Its free Autism Flies program offers airport travel rehearsal, including activities like going through security and boarding a plane. For help with Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, especially for fliers with more severe autism, Alan Day, the chief executive of Autism Double-Checked, recommends contacting the T.S.A. 72 hours before flying to request a passenger support specialist. These specially trained employees can guide you through the process and make suggestions based on the passenger’s specific needs.
Finally, keep track of what works and use that information to improve your strategies. Traveling might be hard at first, Mr. Konst said, “but if you do it enough, it will become easier.”
