Updated: July 11, 2017
Originally Published: July 11, 2017
We’re a family navigating the world of special needs. With three boys in tow, one of our little adventurers has autism. His diagnosis brings along sensory sensitivities, food preferences, and a fair bit of anxiety. While he used to have meltdowns, he’s matured and outgrown many of those challenging moments.
Shortly after receiving our son’s diagnosis, I dove into mommy-and-me autism support groups. The wisdom shared by moms with older kids on the spectrum was invaluable. They had traveled the path I was just beginning to navigate, sharing essential tips—like which dentist is best for children with autism, where to find sibling support, and the best local spots for families with kids on the spectrum.
One burning question for me was, “How can we travel with a child who has autism?” As an avid traveler, the thought of taking my 2 ½-year-old son on vacation felt daunting, especially considering his sensory challenges and potential for meltdowns.
Most parents I spoke to at these meetups responded with, “We just don’t travel anymore. Vacations are too tough.” Their reasons varied: anxiety over long car rides or flights, concerns about finding suitable accommodations, and the overwhelming nature of managing a child’s behavior in unfamiliar places.
After a year of therapies following our son’s diagnosis, we decided to give family travel another shot. Our previous attempt when he was just 2 years old had been chaotic, filled with tears and sensory overload. But family vacations are vital to us, and we knew that the only way for our son to feel comfortable traveling was to actually go out and experience it.
So, we opted for a relaxed trip to Disney World. I know, it sounds contradictory, but my boys were really into Cars and Toy Story at that time, which helped us make the most of our time at the Magic Kingdom.
While we did face some challenges, including a few autism-related meltdowns, the trip went surprisingly well—much better than our earlier experience. We discovered various accommodations at Disney that made things easier for our son and other children on the spectrum.
Our vacation may not have mirrored a typical family getaway, but it was perfect for us. Encouraged by our success, we planned more vacations, one after another.
Years have passed since that first trip, and we recently returned from our first cruise to Mexico. Yes, we encountered some autism-related challenges—it’s part of our journey—but we also created incredible family memories: exploring caves in Cancun, rock climbing on the cruise ship, beach days, and even petting penguins in Orlando.
Family travel is a priority, and we continually encourage our son to push the limits of his comfort zone. We want to be mindful and not overwhelm him, but we firmly believe that exposure to new experiences is essential for his growth.
Our travels have allowed us to create unique memories together, strengthening our bond as a family. Even though our vacations may not resemble typical travel brochures, we stay busy planning our next adventure. So, where shall we explore next?
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In summary, despite the challenges autism may present, our family has discovered ways to embrace travel and create lasting memories together.