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Vacationing with an anxious, inflexible or neurodiverse child.
BY DAWN M. BARCLAY
Summer is when most families take holidays, but for the majority of families whose children have invisible needs such as autism spectrum disorder( ASD), attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder( ADHD) and bipolar disorder, travel dangles like a dream just beyond their grasp. However, thanks to a recent focus on travel inclusion, family trips don’ t need to remain a dream.
A 2018 survey of families with children on the spectrum found that while 87 percent of families with invisible needs don’ t travel, 93 percent said they would if they knew the right travel strategies, such as how to limit or avoid sensory meltdowns( caused by an overwhelming barrage of unfamiliar sounds, smells and other stimuli) and how to incorporate travel into the predictable routines their children need. Their other requirement: finding destinations that cater to their unique needs, such as providing ways to avoid long lines and posting signage that identifies where children can go in a theme park or museum to decompress.
And such strategies aren’ t just suitable for kids on the spectrum. Once they are removed from their comfort zone, all children have the potential to become anxious and inflexible. >
YARRUTA / FREEPIK. COM
COSTCO CONNECTION NOV / DEC 2023 | 19