If you need us to remind you about taking things like clothing (appropriate to destination, of course) or toiletries or travel documents, then it’s been a really, really long time since you took a vacation ! Stop reading and call us now ! Otherwise, we’ll focus this on things that are specific for kids on the spectrum.
1. The Autism Passport. This document gives you a way to communicate your child’s individual needs to your hotel/resort/cruise ship. It lets you describe your child’s communication and sensory needs to those service providers. It makes sense to send it in advance of your arrival in addition to carrying a copy with you.
This can be printed on both sides of a letter-sized piece of paper and folded down the middle to make a small booklet. Click here for printable PDF
Just to “toot our own horn”, we developed the Autism Passport and are thrilled that it has been so well received wherever it’s been used.
2. Social Stories. If your child makes good use of social stories for activities at home, you will be able to make great use of them for vacation. Enlist the help of whoever did those other stories to prepare something for Getting There, whether by road, rail or air, and for what you are going to do when you get there: playing on the beach or in the pool, dining out, riding in theme parks, trail biking … whatever you have planned.
3. Favorite Snacks. This makes sense even if your child doesn’t have special dietary needs. Of course, if they do have a special diet, you may not want to chance a hunt for, say, GFCFSF snacks in a strange town/state/country. No matter what, snacks that you know to be favorites will be better than having to make do with “best available”. And you never know when you’ll need them. Maybe a take-off delay at the airport or a lack of suitable places to make a stop while on the road ?
4. Medications. If your child takes medications, you’ll certainly remember to bring them but think just a little further. Take a bigger supply than you would need for the number of days that you are away. Lose just 1 pill, in any one of a dozen ways that it could happen, and you’re suddenly calling around to get a prescription filled ?
If your child also needs a PRN medication, remember that there may be more occasions when you’ll need these than you might have at home. Take plenty.
5. iPad. Whatever did we do before we had these ? They are portable. You have all of your child’s favorite apps with you. If you have a couple of favorites that tend to absorb or calm your child, you may be really thankful for having them with you. It may also make sense to download a couple of new apps that you think that your child will enjoy based upon what you know already works. Something new may take more time to master and be more absorbing.
Don’t forget to take the charger !
6. Favorite toys or games. Even when you remember to take that charger, there will be times when the iPad needs recharging. Additionally, when flying, there is a period during take-off and landing when electronic devices are not allowed. Look at those favorite toys and games and pick the ones that are easily portable. (Leave the pool table at home, no matter how well favored !)
7. Headphones. We described some of the problems with unfamiliar noises in our post Protecting Sensitive Ears. Headphones will, obviously, be useful if music is soothing and you have that IPad. If music doesn’t work or you don’t use an iPad, there are noise-cancelling headphones that you can purchase inexpensively from sporting goods/hunting stores.
8. Child-proofing Kit. Is your child an escape-artist ? Do they wander off ? Travel-Tot of New Jersey have a portable child-proofing kit that may help. Everything in it is easy attach/easy remove and, therefore, suitable for use in places like hotel rooms.
9. Child ID. This also applies if you have a wanderer. There are 2 things that you might need. First you’ll need something that stays with the child which identifies them and gives your cell phone number. Card, bracelet, something attached to clothing ? There are plenty of choices out there.
It is also a sensible precaution to have an up-to-date description sheet with a recent photo, your child’s current height and weight and, again, your emergency contact details. If your child does wander off, you have something to give to security staff in order to assist with searching for them.
10. The Sensory Shield. Strictly speaking, you can’t take this with you yet since it is still in the final stages of prototype testing. When, however, The Sensory Shield Airplane Seat Partition is ready, it will be really useful as a transportable barrier to unwanted sensory input on the plane. We’ve followed the progress of Lisa Daly, who developed this, based upon her own experiences and wants to make it available to everybody. The device is approved by both the FAA and TSA so that you have no worries when you do take it. It is pictured at the top of this post.
Did we cover everything that you might need for your child ? Probably not. Are some of these things just not applicable to you child ? Probably so.
Your child is unique and has their individual needs. It is really a question of knowing those needs and matching them with what to expect while on vacation. Pick up the phone, call us and let us help you develop your list whether that’s 10 things or 20.