Tips for travel with autistic kids

[Guest guest]

Some good advice there. Taking most kids into a totally new environment is going to freak them out, especially something like an airplane. I sort of remember the first time I flew. My parents explained everything that was going on step by step and either they or the stewardess answered my questions. I'm sure it was a scary situation, but oddly I don't remember that part. Personally though I don't like flying because I get airsick.

One of the times I was traveling by train, there was a family on there with a developmentally disabled child. he was actually very well behaved mostly because he looked out the window most of the time, played with some kind of game or slept. He was better behaved than most of the other kids on there. Now, I didn't see them all the time mind you, but there were a couple of compartments down from mine. Still, I only heard the kid once during the whole 10 hour trip. Some of the "normal" kids ran up and down the passage a few times and were rather noisy.

In a message dated 7/21/2008 12:54:24 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

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[Guest guest]

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Tips for travel with autistic kids

Taking the Kids

by Eileen Ogintz - July 21, 2008

Wherever six-year-old Lennon Gunn goes—even to Germany to visit his

dad—he's got his wooden-handled spatula in hand.

His mom doesn't mind a bit and even carries spares. " It starts the

dialogue, " says Gunn. She explains to everyone she meets that

he is autistic, and his spatula helps him feel more comfortable on

unfamiliar turf. " I'm not afraid to explain, " says Gunn, who works

with parents of newly diagnosed children at the Village of Hope

Center for Autism in San , Texas.

We all know traveling with kids, especially young ones, is never

easy. They don't want to put their blanket on the security belt at an

airport. They get impatient in long lines, hate to sit still on

airplanes, and may cry and spill their drinks. And the passengers,

restaurant patrons, or hotel guests in the vicinity may not be

sympathetic to the beleaguered parent's plight.

That situation is only exacerbated for children who suffer from an

autism spectrum disorder, a complex developmental disability that

affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.

These kids, who look perfectly normal, often are very anxious and

find travel—the noise, the crowds, the lines, the disruption of their

routine—particularly difficult, explains Dr. Lynda Geller, a

psychologist and nationally known autism expert at the NYU Child

Study Center. They may have a tantrum or make strange noises. The

smallest thing might set them off. These kids, she adds, don't have

the social skills to realize they are disturbing anyone else.

" For these families, the judgment of others can make a very difficult

situation far worse, " Dr. Geller says. " They have no idea what that

parent is going through. " They just see a bratty child and inept

parent, other parents who have autistic kids agree. " Think of

standing in that parent's shoes, " says Dr. Geller. " Be sympathetic

rather than disapproving. How would you feel? "

And no matter how well a parent prepares—as with any child—there can

be a meltdown in a public place. That's what happened recently to

North Carolina mom Janice Farrell, who ultimately was asked to get

off an American Eagle flight with her two-year-old autistic son

Jarett. " If they would have been a little more understanding, I think

that none of this would have been a problem, " she told local TV

reporters.

The situation caused an uproar in the blogosphere—more than 1,500

posts just on the Good Morning America website alone, after the

family appeared there. American Airlines spokesperson Tim said

the bigger issue—besides the child's uncontrollable screaming—was

that he wasn't buckled in his seatbelt, an FAA requirement for

takeoff. " Every effort was made to help the passenger comply with

safety regulations, " he said. " It was a last resort measure to

deplane the two passengers. " added that it is possible for any

passenger to note special needs in their customer record, which might

have alerted the crew in advance to be prepared. Whatever airline you

are flying and whatever special needs your family might have, that

certainly is a good idea.

Delta Airlines, in fact, is going a step further, developing special

travel recommendations for families traveling with those who are

developmentally disabled. The guidelines, prepared with Atlanta's

Marcus Institute for Development and Learning, will soon be available

on Delta's website, said Delta spokesperson Connell.

Autism is now the fastest-growing developmental disability, diagnosed

in one in 150 births and impacting more than a million Americans,

according to the Autism Society of America. The majority of those

affected—more than 80 percent—are under 21, notes Bell,

executive vice president of Autism Speaks. Bell is himself the parent

of an autistic teen.

Bell says some families don't go anywhere, not even out to dinner,

for fear of a situation like what happened to the Farrells; others,

his own family included, opt " not to let autism rule our lives. " Bell

adds that his family of five has successfully navigated national

parks, cross-country car trips, theme parks, ski resorts (many offer

terrific adaptive programs), and Hawaii. " It takes extra time and

practice, " he says, and isn't often relaxing, but he encourages

parents to try—and the rest of us to be more empathetic. Suburban

Miami mom Revell, whose six-year-old son has autism,

said to encourage that empathy, she now hands out wallet-sized cards

from the Autism Society of America that explain the disability to

people, including airport security screeners.

The good news is that there are more options for these families than

ever before. The Autism Society of America, in fact, just brought

2,000 people to Orlando because Walt Disney World is so accommodating

with front-of-the-line passes for autistic children who find it so

difficult to wait, said spokesperson Marguerite Kirst-Colston, whose

son has autism. Other theme parks, including SeaWorld and Busch

Gardens, also have similar programs.

Resorts such as Club Med and cruise lines such as Norwegian,

Carnival, and Disney also try to be more inclusive in their organized

activities.

Adaptive Sports Centers are offering special camps and programming

that enables these kids and their parents to get out and try

activities—even whitewater rafting—that would be impossible

otherwise. The Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colorado, is

having a special High Adventure Weekend for families with children

who suffer from autism, while the National Ability Center in Park

City, Utah, offers several weeklong day camps this summer. This

allows autistic children to have a special program, the families to

have some time with their other children, and the entire family to

share vacation time together, said Ability Center spokesperson

Jensen. The National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park,

Colorado, and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports also offer programs and

activities appropriate for these families.

As for Gunn, she and her twins just got back from Oregon and

are looking forward to a Disney Cruise at Christmas. " Every time I

take my child someplace, " she says, " We all win. "

Preparing for your trip

If you are traveling with a child with an autism spectrum disorder,

here are some expert tips to make the experience easier:

Preparation is the best defense. Call ahead and inform the airline,

hotel, resort, and cruise line of your child's condition and ask what

special accommodations are available. Ask if you need a fridge,

inside room, etc. Bring your child's own sheets, if you think that

will make him or her more comfortable.

Select an environment your child can handle.

Talk online with other parents who have been there, done that. Simply

Google the destination and " kids with autism " and you likely can

connect with a local parents' group.

Book low season on a cruise or at a resort like Club Med so there

will be fewer children and the staff will have more time to devote to

yours.

Travel by car if you think flying will be too difficult. Opt to stay

someplace where you can eat some of your meals in your room.

Be forthright explaining the situation to those you meet.

Develop stories, complete with pictures, that explain to your child

exactly what you will be doing and where you are going.

Whatever happens, stay calm.