Family travel poses many challenges, but when one of your crew has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it can raise some additional hurdles. The unfamiliarity with new surroundings and disrupted routines can cause elevated fear and anxiety in your child.
While the amount of information about traveling with autistic children can seem endless, we’ve compiled some of the best advice here. It’s organized for easy reference and explains how to overcome the most common travel challenges facing children with ASD.
The following tips are well-researched and approved by most of the top autism organizations in the US. However, they should never supersede the advice of your child’s primary health provider or autism care coordinator.
Before Your Trip
Taking a proactive approach will help your child cope with the unpredictable nature of travel. While most people prepare their trips in advance, children with autism need extra prep time.
Try these strategies to make your trip go much smoother:
- Consider visiting the airport beforehand to help your child get familiar with the surroundings. You may have to do this several times before your trip.
- Contact your airline’s disability department to see if they offer desensitization programs for special needs customers. These experiences often include a TSA walkthrough to familiarize young passengers with airport security.
- An alternative to a walkthrough is acting out the security scenario at home. For example, one family member could be the TSA officer, while others can play the role of fellow passengers.
- Download the TSAs free disabilities notification card and present it to the TSA official upon entering the security checkpoint.
- Try booking your flight during nap time if you know your child will be able to sleep.
- Request a bulkhead seat to give your child extra room to stretch their legs.
- Write a story about what will happen on the trip and review it every day prior to the big event. Include check-in, TSA screening, flying on the airplane and possible ear-popping as exciting experiences encountered while traveling.
- Be sure to pack chewy snacks, your child’s favorite toys and plenty of digital entertainment. Also, don’t forget those award stickers for when your child displays their best behavior!
The Ride to the Airport
Before piling into the car to head for the airport, have your child exercise for twenty minutes. Running around the yard or jumping on a trampoline will relieve pent-up energy and make sitting still during a long trip more manageable.
On the ride to the airport, go over the story again. If time permits, have your child tell the story to you. By the time you arrive, it will be fresh in their mind. Before entering the airport, explain that the story is about to start again.
TSA Screening
Feel free to ask for help getting through airport security. A TSA representative can assist you with unique circumstances and provide a private screening for your child if needed.
Other security measures include:
- Labeling all your child’s medications clearly.
- Keeping medicines in a separate container.
- Informing the TSA agent of all medications.
- Ensuring your child has an updated ID bracelet.
- Consider using a harness or tracking device for a child prone to wandering.
In case of a pat-down
The TSA officer may utilize a pat-down procedure during one of the following scenarios:
- The metal detector alarm goes off during screening.
- Suspicious activity displayed by the traveler.
- Heightened security alerts.
- You opt out of Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) screening.
If a pat-down is required for your child, don’t panic. Instead, tell the TSA officer about your situation. You can also request a private screening. An officer of the same sex will be in the room with your child, along with you and another TSA officer.
Boarding the Plane
Before boarding your plane, tell the gate attendant you are traveling with a child with ASD. They will give you the option of either boarding early or waiting until all other passengers get on the airplane.
Your boarding strategy will depend on the unique needs of your child. For example, boarding early means not having to stand in line. Boarding last means not having to sit in a crowded airplane for as long.
On the Plane
The plane ride could be the most challenging part of the trip for your child. Try these tips to ensure a pleasant flight:
- Pull up the digital countdown timer on your phone’s clock app. Set it in front of your child so they can monitor how long the flight must go before you reach your destination.
- To avoid ear-popping at altitude, have your child chew a piece of gum or suck on some candy.
- Allow your child the choice of what items to get from their backpack. This strategy will help them feel like they’re part of the decision-making process.
- Use noise-canceling headphones while watching videos or listening to music to drown out unfamiliar noises on the plane.
At the Hotel
After several hours of standing in security lines, sitting on an airplane and riding in taxis, your child has probably had enough by now. It’s time to blow off some steam.
If your hotel has a playground, that would be ideal. If not, you could go for a walk or run around a safe area. Finding a local park is another option if you’re not too tired.
When making hotel reservations, try booking a room at the end since these tend to be quieter. Also, it may be worth the extra cost for a kitchen suite or condo since you’ll be able to cook for your family.
More Tips While Traveling
- Shop around for airlines that cater to special needs travelers. Many offer sensory rooms at major airports with calming colors, soothing sounds and fun activities for children with ASD.
- Upon boarding, it’s vital to alert the flight attendants that you’re traveling with an ASD child. Most are empathetic and want to help, even if an unlikely meltdown occurs.
- Give your child a visual travel checklist with all the day’s expected activities. Have them check off each part of the journey so they can see what’s coming next.
- Make an airplane restroom plan in advance. Draw pictures of what the restroom will look like, how it will bounce a little while your child uses it and that it will be much smaller than the one at home. Also, it’s best to ask the flight attendant to flush for the child well after you’re clear of the restroom, due to the noise.
- Pack your child’s favorite blanket or bedding and don’t wash it prior to the trip. The familiar smells will have a calming effect and give them a sense of reassurance.
- Practice makes perfect. Be sure to take short trips with your family often. The more your child with ASD travels, the more they get used to it and the easier it will get over time.
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