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Careful planning by travel advisors and clients can help people with a range of disabilities , including spectrum disorders such as autism , have rich travel experiences .
“ Different people have different triggers and needs ,” explains Alexandra Wisotsky , a travel advisor for Polka Dot Bow Adventures , referring to clients with autism . “ Knowing what to expect is very helpful for families to navigate their vacations best .”
Wisotsky lets “ families guide me as to what they need ,” but shows up ready with an array of options , including destinations where staff are “ trained to work with children on the autism spectrum .”
“ I make sure that families know about all of the options available to them that will make their vacation easier and more enjoyable ,” says Wisotsky .
Santillo says it can be helpful to explain to suppliers you ’ ve booked for your clients that durable medical equipment or a service animal is an extension of the person using it . “ That item or animal is their key to independence ,” she says .
Asking the right questions But to find out exactly what your client needs , you have to know what — and how — to ask .
“ Just like a reporter , you have to ask really good questions and then , of course , listen to what your clients are saying ,” says Lynn Clark , agency owner of Travel Leaders SE Wisconsin . “ You have to understand the impact of the person ’ s disability to be able to help them .”
Don ’ t be shy about these conversations , says Santillo . Your client is an expert and will tell you what they need , but you have to be
“ comfortable getting very personal ,” she points out .
“ When planning an amazing holiday for clients with disabilities it is important to remember that they are driving the ship ,” says Kayti Behrends , an advisor at Adventures by Jamie . “ They live a life that you and I may not have any insight into , and it is crucial to take the time to listen to their wants and needs .”
These needs can be extremely individual and specific . For example , Behrends ’ close family member with Down syndrome “ is very sensitive to certain situations and triggered by certain weather ,” she says .
Harli McCullough , an Adventures by Jamie advisor whose son has nonverbal autism , says , “[ N ] ot all accommodations are necessarily physical . My son needs a ‘ cool down area ’ or a quiet place to regulate his emotions .”
Santillo advises asking about what trips your clients have taken before and what specific actions from service providers made them feel supported — and situations that have missed the mark . Santillo , for example , loves cruising and spends a lot of time at Disney because of the resort ’ s accessibility and experienced , well-trained staff .
Finally , when putting together any travel package , avoid making assumptions about your client ’ s preferences or what they may be comfortable doing based on your understanding of their disability or limitations . Santillo ’ s own recent trips have included skydiving , a hot air balloon ride and zip lining over alligators at Gatorland .
“ After the excursion has happened , I ’ ll call my family and be like , ‘ Guess what I just did ?’” she says . “ I don ’ t [ want to ] give them a heart attack beforehand .”
S�MMER 2021 / THE COMPASS / 65