Autism-friendly travel

Traveling can bring a family closer as they explore and learn together. However, the journey to the destination can be difficult. The break from structured day-to-day life, the crowds, security lines, and waiting can stress out the most patient of adults, so, how do you get your kids through the chaos — especially if the child is on the autism spectrum or has special needs? Well, the experts say that preparation is the key to successful travel.

There are a number of organizations that aid families traveling with children on the spectrum or with other special needs. The services available range from providing a list of approved resorts and airlines, to organizing group travel or arranging staff to care for children during the vacation.

Travel companies are increasingly offering additional services to become more accessible. Some airlines — such as Delta, JetBlue, and United — offer travel recommendations for families traveling with children with special needs, and in some cities, offer simulations of the boarding process with the help of organizations like Autism Speaks.

A few resorts — such as Club Med and Beaches — have also worked with organizations like SEED Autism Center and Center for Autism and Related Disabilities to assist in training their staff to better provide accessible facilities and offerings.

Even some amusement parks — such as Universal, SeaWorld and Disney — have developed accessibility plans, which are available upon request.

A popular option for family traveling is cruising. Some of the most popular cruise lines, like Carnival and Norwegian, leave from ports in New York. However, one cruise line that has taken accessibility a step further is Royal Caribbean, which departs from a port a short drive away in Bayonne, New Jersey. Royal Caribbean line was present at the New York Times Travel Show and had information on its autism-friendly cruise ships front and center.

Royal Caribbean has partnered with Autism on the Seas, a leading developmental disability service provider to the cruise industry since 2007. Autism on the Seas provides cruises staffed with persons specifically trained to assist families traveling with someone who is autistic or has a developmental disability. It also provides respite and private activities that allow guests with special needs to enjoy the ship’s entertainment.

The Autism on the Seas staff members are educated and experienced to work with those on the spectrum. They have also received background checks in order to work with children and are sanctioned by the cruise lines. The staffers are focused on accompanying your family on the cruise to ensure everyone has a fun, accessible vacation. They provide travel experiences onboard Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney, and Carnival cruises.

Of the cruise lines that the organization works with, Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to date that has achieved bronze-level certification on all ships. This reflects the company’s readiness to accommodate guests with autism and other developmental disabilities, and provide equal access to onboard services and amenities to guests with special needs.

In order to receive this certification, the cruise ships were evaluated regarding the accessibility of their accommodations and the changes they applied to become more accessible. These evaluations also support the cruise line’s efforts to maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Royal Caribbean’s autism-friendly initiative for families includes priority boarding and departure, sensory-friendly films and toys, dietary menu options, and overall, autism-friendly training for Adventure Ocean staff. It also offers a Cruising Social Story booklet to help families prepare their child for the cruise vacation.

Group travel is a great way to get to know other families that have had similar experiences and for your child to meet and socialize with other children either through private group activities or larger ship activities. Parents can also seek a little alone time while the children are in provided care on the ship.

If travel planning seems overwhelming to you, seek the help of a travel professional. ASD Vacations works with families of children with special needs in their travel planning, and specialists are sensitive to autism and related disabilities. The company has relationships with resorts and cruise lines and also partners with Autism on the Seas. Cruises can be booked through the Autism on the Seas website.

Boy voyage!

Shnieka Johnson is an education consultant and freelance writer. She is based in Manhattan where she resides with her husband and son. Contact her via her website: www.shniekajohnson.com.Airlines:

www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/disabilities.html

www.jetblue.com/travel/special-needs

https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/company-operations/pages/united-helps-autistic-children-and-their-families-fly-friendly.aspx

Resorts:

www.clubmed.us/cm/home.do?PAYS=115&LANG=US

www.beaches.com

Cruises:

www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs.aspx

www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

Parks:

www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Accessibility-Information.aspx

http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa/park-info/special-needs

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services

Social Story:

http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/Autism_Social_Story_Booklet.pdf

Services:

www.asdvacations.com

www.autismontheseas.com

Other travel:

http://nyttravelshow.com

www.takingthekids.com/about-eileen

http://adata.org/publication/americans-disabilities-act-faq

Additional links:

www.seedautismcenter.com

www.albany.edu/autism

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

KTBYTE

<div><strong>Computer Science Coding Classes for Children </strong></div> <div> </div> <p>Ages 8 - 18</p> <p>Enroll today for a FREE Trial and our Summer and School Year Course Offerings!</p> <p>Differentiated and Individualized Learning with our Caring and Knowledgeable Staff!</p> <p>Offer YOUR child the competitive advantage of learning a new language and also using STEM to learn and have fun! </p> <p> </p> <div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987ktbyte-vision"> <p><strong>The KTBYTE vision</strong></p> <p>At KTBYTE, our vision is to make a high-quality Computer Science (CS) education accessible to students globally while also making CS exciting and engaging for them!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987diffsimilar"> <p><strong>The KTBYTE Difference</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE offers a progressive Computer Science curriculum for students ages 8-18 years old. Classes range from introductory JavaBlocks™ programming to college-level courses. KTBYTE offers classes that stand out from the standard Core Curriculum for high-school students, with unique programs such as USACO prep courses, Generative Art and Design courses, and even Machine Learning courses. Our instructors are dedicated, nurturing and passionate about what they do and committed to ensuring that KTBYTE students are exposed to an unparalleled, dynamic, educational and engaging CS learning experience! Register today for a <a href="https://www.ktbyte.com/freetrial" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ktbyte.com/freetrial&source=gmail&ust=1622725037124000&usg=AFQjCNED2R673ZzKakJOtaGSycFpwW73uw">Free Trial</a> and experience the KTBYTE Difference!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987aluminiaccomp"> <p><strong>KTBYTE Alumni Accomplishments</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE alums consistently outperform their peers in terms of their academic accomplishments. KTBYTE students ace their AP CS courses and exams and are also incredibly successful through the competitive college admissions process. KTBYTE students have been accepted to numerous Ivy League and competitive colleges and universities including but not limited to Brown, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, UPenn, Princeton, Tufts, Yale, and many more!</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987shorttermbenef"> <p><strong>What Makes the KTBYTE Course Experience Unique?</strong></p> <p>At KTBYTE, all of our instructors are highly qualified and experienced, educational professionals who differentiate learning and offer KTBYTE students a multitude of opportunities for individualized instruction by spending hours each week preparing for each specialty class that they teach in order to offer a dynamic, engaging and fun educational course interaction for every KTBYTE student. Through our Virtual Machines, our instructors are able to see exactly what is on your child’s screen throughout every class, and as such are easily able to assist your child through any obstacle that may arise. At KTBYTE, our nurturing, knowledgeable and caring teaching staff anticipate and identify when a student may be struggling with a problem even before the student decides to ask a question about it.</p> </div> <div id="m_3428097911001171987whoareinstructors"> <p><strong>What Sets the KTBYTE Teaching Team Apart?</strong></p> <p>KTBYTE instructors are college and post-college working professionals with extensive backgrounds in computer science. At the highest level, our artificial intelligence classes are taught by a graduate sutdent in AI. Each of our teaching professionals is passionate about igniting a love for learning in your child by presenting Computer Science concepts in practical ways which offer the student the opportunity to see Computer Science at work in recognizable applications from daily life. Every class, regardless of level will be individualized and differentiated to ensure your child’s success!</p> </div> </div>

Ballet Academy East SUMMERDANCE Camp

<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fun-filled summer program designed to foster imagination and inspire a love of the arts</span></strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">Ballet Academy East is proud to once again offering its much-loved and very popular SUMMERDANCE CAMP this summer! Summerdance is a fun-filled program for children 3-7 years, designed to foster imagination and inspire a love of the arts. Activities include a variety of dance forms, arts & crafts, drama, musical theater, cooking, origami, and much more! Classes are led by BAE’s talented and dedicated instructors who specialize in teaching and encouraging young children. Group size is limited to promote a fully interactive experience and individual attention for each child. Sign up for all 7 weeks or design your own week-to-week schedule.</p>

Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center

<div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Established by the United Methodist Church in 1947, Quinipet is built upon the rocks of Faith, Courage, Love, Humility and Honesty; creating a foundation that welcomes campers from all walks of life, faiths, and backgrounds.</span></span></strong><br /><br style="color: #7b8c89; font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">​</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: #ffffff;">Whether you come for one week or all summer long, you will make new friends, learn and grow, laugh a LOT, and enjoy the beautiful natural environment of Shelter Island. </span><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quinipet has all the fun of a traditional Christian summer camp - surrounded by water!</span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Week-Long Sessions begin the week of July 4, 2021:</span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <ul> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Day Camp (ages 5-15) Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm</span></span></strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Community Sailing (ages 9-15) Monday-Friday, 9-12 or 1-4</strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Traditional Overnight Camp (ages 7-17) Sunday Afternoon - Saturday Morning</strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Sailing Overnight Camp (ages 9-17) <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday Afternoon - Saturday Morning</span></strong></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Daily Day Camp transportation options from the north (Greenport) & south (North Haven/Sag Harbor) forks! </strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>In-person Open Houses this April and May!</strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>For Dates & Rates and Online Registration visit us at Quinipet.org</strong></div>