You’ve worked on an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and/or an ITP (Individual Transition Plan) and now we’re here to help you with an IVP (Individual Vacation Plan). The good news is that the IVP will be a lot more fun, less bureaucratic and a lot easier to follow.
We start with a free consultation in order to find out about your family’s specific needs and desires.
We ask about the Special Guest. What are their special needs and interests? What are their strengths and their challenges? What are their potential trigger points? What sensory and special diet issues need to be considered ? This enables us to develop their own unique Autism Passport (our document that is loosely based upon the Learner Snapshot by Judy Marks and Brenda Smith Myles).
We also ask about you and the other family members. What are your dreams and desires for an ideal vacation? What do you want to do with your Respite Time? We look at all of the issues that give you problems in traveling with autism and help you to find the optimal means to resolve them.
Once we know what you need we help with the planning and booking.
Where are you going ? What arrangements need to be made in advance ? We speak directly with the Executive Chef/Food and Beverage Manager at the resort and make sure that they can accommodate special dietary needs including, but not limited to, GFCF. We make sure of the details including room type, bedding requirements and room location. We will make sure that all of your concerns are addressed before you book so that you can relax and know that you’re going to have a great time.
You can choose to travel with your own group or as a single family. Each has advantages.
Your very own Group.
It takes a village? NOT EVEN! Group arrangements can be as small as 10 people traveling together. There are some great advantages in traveling with others. You’ll have extra hands for some of the transitions (think airport). You’ll have somebody known and familiar to your child who can help them while you take a break.
Your group can consist of family (grandparents have often been known to cover more than their share of the cost). Your group could be you and some friends whether your friends have their own special needs children or not. Your group could be perhaps just your family and two other families from your support group or school.
There may be one further advantage to traveling as a group. We are often able to arrange for the whole trip, including the flight costs, to be paid over a period of time rather than all upfront.
Individual Family Travel
For those who prefer to travel on their own, we provide Individual Assistance Packages. Individual Family Vacations are not limited to our main partners and can be with a number of cruise lines or resorts.
Whichever way you choose to travel, we provide you with the support that you need while traveling.
This can be by means of some of the tips that we provide in our blog. This can be by making calls to your airline and/or TSA, if flying. It can be to liaise with your own Therapist or Special Education teacher, if you wish, so that they can create social stories or PECS.
Whatever support you need, we are here to provide it with autism-friendly-resorts, autism-friendly-cruises and individual care and assistance. Contact us today and let’s see what we can do to help you.
