Travelling with special needs, high needs or neurodiverse children

 First week of July in the desert metropolis of Dubai and it is officially summer time.Temperatures are at peak high and schools will be closing for a long two month break.It is also officially travel time for families,mostly expatriates who plan in advance to be away from the scorching sun and take the time to visit their home countries or just take a much deserved vacation.

According to Dubai Airports through their official website,a total of 3.3 million passengers are expected to go through their gates from July 6-17 this year, with the peak summer travel surge occurring on the weekend of July 12-14 where they expect 840 000 passengers.Daily peak passenger numbers passing through DXB(Dubai International Airport) is estimated to reach 286,000 that weekend.I can safely assume that half of the families i work with will form a small percentage of those figures.

As an occupational therapist , majorly pediatric and interacting with families on a daily basis, it is that time of the year when I am forced into travel consulting,advising  families on how best to prepare for traveling with their children(mostly neurodiverse and having high needs).

On a professional level having been a pediatric OT for over a decade and personally as a father who frequently travels with an overly active toddler son,below are my top recommendations when traveling with children(typically developing or children with special/high needs).

Starting Small

Introduce travel at a local level before planning for foreign trips.This helps in gradual introduction of new experiences to children's lives without disrupting their entire routine.

Start introducing local traveling to children at the earliest possible when they are young.

Use the diversity in your neighborhood to introduce cultural differences before planning a foreign trip.

Before staying at a hotel try spending a night at friends or relative's house.

Use Social Stories and picture books

Introduce ideas of foreign travel by reading books with pictures about different destinations while studying different aspects of that country.

Children's picture books about travel to interest them in travelling.(Bookroo.com)

Building your vacation around your child's interest/passion.

Using the child's passion might ease the discomfort of a changed schedule brought about by traveling.

Pre-trip preparation.

Preparation is key to a successful holiday which requires upfront research and a plan to reduce surprises.

Parents should familiarize themselves with what special needs programs and accommodations are available both on flight and at their destination.

Research to weed out upsetting stimuli like crowds or where strict schedules are a necessity.Choose a relaxing destination with unhurried/flexible schedules or a destination based on your child.

Plan as a Family.

Discuss the trip with the entire family talking about each step,describing the expected environment,counting down days to the trip, let children suggest activities or places they would like to see.

Let children help in packing their suitcases.

Create a schedule but allow for extra time for flexibility and review the schedule with your child a couple of times before your trip.

Creating time for sensory time outs and sensory friendly activities in the itinerary.

Pack a sensory bag(bag or backpack for containing emergency items e.g snack/drink,change of clothes ,sensory items ,familiar toys e.t.c).

Create a Safety protocol.

Use a tether backpack for children with wandering tendencies.

Consider a GPS tracker for your child e.g AngelSense.

Using a medical alert bracelet  if a child has speech concerns or other emergency considerations.Include an emergency number for the phone in use during travel.

Have an ID kit with your child's recent photograph that can be used to help find him/her in an emergency.

Having identification containing the name of the hotel,parents phone numbers and some cab money in the pockets of younger kids.

Pack for peace.

With all children,familiarity equals comfort.Pack their favorite comfortable clothing and shoes,special blanket or stuffed animals,electronics and toys child uses at home,noise canceling headphones with music,fidget toys,weighted blanket ,water and snacks( In the parents survival bag).

Suggest a small kid sized backpack the child can wear and carry where they put some preferred objects/toys.

Not washing comfort items before the trip(familiar smell of home may help children feel at ease).

If possible pack a white noise machine or fan to mask out hotel noises . 

Pack some preffered foods and drinks for picky feeders and carry some common toiletries(soap and toiletries) for the children when staying at hotels.

Preview the adventure.

Role play parts of the trip with your child letting them pack their suitcase and role play rolling it at home like at the airport.Remember to use social stories and visual schedules.

Wings for autism is a great tool for families with special needs children to familiarize themselves with airport travel and the navigation processes involved. 

Introduce unfamiliar items at home that might be encountered when traveling e.g sand for beach destinations.

Navigating Air Travel

Introduce the idea of airline travel long before the flight through Social Stories,picture books,role play,visit programs like Wings of Autism,or even an advance visit to the airport with programs a particular airline may provide.

Look for sensory spaces in airports which offer them.

Alert the airline regarding your child's special needs.

Make consideration regarding which seats work best for your child and request them in advance.Preferred seats should be upfront which are less noisy,provide more legroom and prevent children seeing large passenger numbers behind them.

If your child is a picky feeder,bring food along for the flight or make arrangements for special meals that your child likes.

Always alert the airline to any allergies.

Include items that will distract and calm your child before and during the flight in your carry-on luggage(noise canceling earmuffs,fidget toys,favorite toy/stuffed animal,weighted blanket/lap pad).

Consider carrying your child's car seat if they struggle with staying buckled or with elopement if the seat is allowed and meets airline specifications.

Arrival at the airport early is key and request/use any special identification items the airline or airport might provide for children/families with special needs like the Sunflower lanyard.

If it allows,one parent should do the check in while the other engages the child away from the queues.

Always make use of your strollers for as long as possible.

Inquire about your rights for going through security which include pat down/relaxed rules.

According to your child's needs,decide on the best time to board.

If safe for your child,carry gum and hard candies to reduce ear-popping during flight.

On arrival at your destination

Small,blow up pools can be modified and placed at the bottom of the shower if the room does not have a bathtub.

Noise from hotel hallways can be masked with fans.

Remote check ins or check in without your child to avoid noisy lobbies.

Hotel closets can work as sensory/calm down retreat areas for children when overwhelmed.

When touring venues

Include planned breaks into your day when planning tours/visits to theme parks,museums or other venues,keeping your child's energy and attention levels in mind.

Look for venues that are child friendly which usually have lower lighting,fewer people,less noise and sensory/quiet rooms where children can go when needed.

Inquire what days/times are least crowded.

Use social stories to prepare the child for the adventure and try out new sensations before leaving the house.

Always check to see if your venue has special provisions for neurodiverse children e.g special access lines,allowance for stroller use,re admittance passed(if your child is overwhelmed and you are forced to leave early).

Carry headphones,ear plugs and snacks.Sunglasses even at night to reduce visual stimulation at theme parks.

Always check in with your child for signs of overstimulation to avoid meltdowns.

Restaurant Dining

Before the actual dining out role-play the experience with your child.

Seek children friendly restaurants which mostly offer high chairs with buckles to prevent escape.

Prior picking of menu items in advance from online menus.If your child is a picky eater, request the restaurant if you could bring your own food(might encourage them to taste/bite a new food).

Call in advance and request food to be prepared to reduce your child's anxiety when waiting.

Always choose outdoor dining over buffet dining.

Carry items to distract and calm the child(headphones,Ipad)

Provide your payment information in advance in case you are forced to leave abruptly due to overstimulation/melt down.

Other accommodations

Hire temporary support at the destination or one who can travel with you from home,if you need support on the road.

Look into travel insurance before traveling(Cancel Anytime, Cancel for Any reasons and Trip Interruption  policies are available).

If the weather at your destination requires different attire than at home,practice wearing them  before departure.

Children with special needs often have unique interest areas that they are very passionate about.Build a vacation around museums and other venues that cater to those interests.

In conclusion,I believe all families and their children(neurodiverse,high needs,special needs or neurotypical)deserve a break which usually involves traveling.It is my hope that the above tips can make traveling easier and vacations more enjoyable for my beloved families with children with high needs. 

References

Antell, Judy. “Traveling with Children on the Autism Spectrum.” Family Travel Forum, last accessed October 18, 2021. https://myfamilytravels.com/content/52306-traveling-children-autism-spectrum.

Arky, Beth. “Tips for Traveling with Challenging Children.” Childmind.org, 2021. https://childmind.org/article/tips-for-traveling-with-challenging-children/.

Covington, Taylor. “Traveling with Autism: How to Handle Safety, Transitions, and Time in Transit.” The Zebra.com, last modified August 10, 2021. https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/traveling-autism

Daniels, Natasha. “Eight Things Every Parent Should Do When Traveling with Anxious Children.” AT Parenting Survival, 2021. https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/traveling-with-anxious-children.

Family Travel Association. “Vision and Mission.” 2021. https://familytravel.org/mission/.

International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. “Family Travel Association (FTA) and IBCCES Have Teamed up to Ensure Travel Agents from All Over the Globe Have Access to Training and Certification in the Special Needs Travel Market.” 2021. https://ibcces.org/fta/.

Keiper, Ida, and Jones, Jesemine. “A Travel Resource for Parents of Children with Special Needs.” Family Travel Association, 2021. https://familytravel.org/travel-resource-parents-children-with-special-needs/.

Traveling Different:Vacation strategies for Parents of the Anxious,the Inflexible,and the Neurodiverse,Dawn M.Barclay.Rowan and Littlefield Publishers,2022.https://a.co/gUEDnwa