- The travel industry is changing as more autism-friendly travel options are being introduced.
- A staggering 97% of families with an autistic child said they are not satisfied with the current travel options for them.
- Research has found that travel can benefit the personal development of autistic people.
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Traveling as a family creates priceless bonds and memories. Stuart Spielman and his wife Mona, who have been traveling with their two children since they were toddlers, can attest to this.
Most recently, the Washington, D.C., family traveled to New York City to celebrate the 30th birthday of their son Zak, who has autism. The family met up with their youngest son, who lives in Brooklyn, and other family members who live in the area.
“Traveling is about bringing family together. That’s what it meant in this case, getting everyone together and celebrating a milestone in my oldest son’s life,” said Spielman, who is also senior vice president of advocacy for Autism Speaks.
The Spielmans have traveled far and near, including Paris, Hawaii and Chicago. “My mantra is that everyone has a place in the world. Zak shouldn’t have a restrictive life, Zak should have a full life, like the one I enjoy,” Spielman said.
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Zak was diagnosed with autism shortly before he turned 2, and the family initially faced challenges trying to make sure he was comfortable on the trip. He is nonverbal, expressing his needs and emotions in other ways. “For us, it’s about sticking with it and having fun as a family,” Spielman said.
Many of the more than 20 million families with a child on the spectrum can relate to the Spielmans. Eighty-seven percent of families with an autistic child report not taking family vacations, according to a 2019 survey of 1,000 parents by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.
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Just like the Spielmans, these families want to travel and explore new places with their children – the travel industry just isn’t accommodating them. An overwhelming 97% said they’re not satisfied with the travel options available to them.
Fortunately, the industry is changing, as more autism-friendly travel options, such as autism-certified resorts and flight boarding demonstrations, are being introduced.
“Over the course of Zak’s 30 years, we’ve been met with more smiles and encouragement than that long, unkind stare,” Spielman said.
Planning ahead
Now, the Spielmans have their travel plans pretty much nailed down, though it took “trial and error” to get there. “We’ve had challenging trips and very easy trips,” Spielman said. Zak’s brother, mother and father know him well enough to know what he’s talking about without speaking.
On their trips, the family “keeps the pace right” and is “mindful of his physical comfort and needs.” Typically, the family creates a schedule for their trip, adding breaks in the cafe car on their Amtrak ride and making sure there is a casual restaurant that serves hot dogs and fries, which are foods Zak enjoys.
“We want to be mindful of what a good vacation looks like for Zak,” Spielman said. As with any group trip, the family aims to accommodate each member’s wants and needs, but “it can be challenging in this case where Zak is nonverbal, but with 30 years of experience, we have some insight.”
The family prioritizes Zak’s favorite activities, such as walking or looking at water fountains, and avoids circumstances that would make Zak uncomfortable, such as going to the opera.
One frequent trip the family takes isn’t far from their backyard—to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the canal town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. Zak enjoys walking along the canal and enjoying the day. Starting with smaller trips can help families learn more about the autistic family member’s sensory triggers and be less overwhelming than a completely new environment, like a busy city or a remote island.
The joys of travel are for everyone
Everyone can benefit from travel. Research has found that travel can benefit the personal development of autistic people by increasing their adaptability, building confidence (both with themselves and their parents), and helping them cope better with everyday stressors. The love and confidence built through positive travel experiences is also significant.
In some cases, traveling with Zak has created connections that cross borders for the family. “We often have this thing where we’ll go to a hotel and the staff will come and say, ‘My brother is on the spectrum, and we have some activities if you’re interested,’” Spielman said.
When Zak and his brother were children, the family visited the Vatican Museums in Rome and Zak was vocalizing and caught the attention of a security guard, Spielman said. Thinking Zak was in trouble or about to be kicked out, Spielman said the guard actually told him, “My son is just like yours.”
“I think everyone benefits from being around Zak,” he said.
One of Zak’s favorite things to do when he travels is go to the beach for the sensory experience. He enjoys wading in and out of the refreshing water and feeling the warmth of the sand and sun.
“The joy of seeing someone you love kicking up sand on the beach, just being happy to be somewhere different and being happy, it means something special. With Zak, he’s part of our family, sometimes it’s harder to travel, but it’s so important,” Spielman said.
Kathleen Wong is a USA TODAY travel reporter based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.
