What I Wish I Had Known Before Traveling with My Autistic Child
In my previous blog post, I shared one of our family’s earliest travel experiences before my son was diagnosed with autism. Looking back now, there are many tools and strategies I wish I had known about at the time that could have made traveling less stressful for both of us.
The good news is that families have access to many more resources today than they did when my son was young.
If you’re planning a vacation with your autistic child, here are some of the tools and strategies I wish I had known about sooner.
Visual Schedules
One of the most valuable tools I discovered was the use of visual schedules.
While creating visuals can take some time initially, the payoff can be enormous. Visual schedules help reduce anxiety by giving a child a clear understanding of what is happening next. Instead of facing uncertainty, they know what to expect throughout the day.
If a full visual schedule feels overwhelming, start small with a simple “First/Then” board.
For example:
First: Security Check
Then: Snack Time
Using simple language such as “First this, then that” can help children understand what is expected and what comes next.
When I traveled with my son, I kept all of our visuals organized in a binder. Each visual was attached using Velcro, and I created a portable schedule strip that could be updated throughout the day.
When an activity was completed, I would say “all done” and flip the visual over. This helped reinforce that one part of the schedule was finished and the next activity was coming.
The binder stayed in my carry-on bag and traveled with us everywhere. The size and complexity of your system can be adjusted to meet your child’s individual needs.
Social Stories
Another tool I wish I had known about earlier is the use of social stories.
Social stories are short, simple stories designed to help autistic children understand new experiences, expectations, and routines.
For travel, social stories can explain:
Going to the airport
Checking in for a flight
Going through security
Waiting at the gate
Boarding the airplane
Staying at a hotel or resort
Many families create social stories with the support of a Speech-Language Pathologist if one is available through their school or therapy team.
There are also many online resources and tutorials available.
One resource I have found helpful is LessonPix, which provides tools for creating visuals, schedules, and social stories.
LessonPix:
Airport Tours
One strategy I discovered later was arranging airport tours before travel.
Many airports offer programs that allow families to visit the airport, explore the environment, and become familiar with the travel process before departure day.
I found it helpful to take photographs of each step of the airport experience during our visit.
Once we got home, I printed those pictures and reviewed them regularly with my son leading up to our trip.
Seeing the actual airport, security area, boarding gate, and waiting areas helped make the experience more predictable and less intimidating.
If you’re interested in this option, contact your local airport authority to see what programs may be available.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
Another resource available today is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.
The sunflower lanyard is an internationally recognized symbol that discreetly indicates a person may have a non-visible disability, including autism.
Wearing the lanyard lets airport staff, transportation providers, and other participating organizations know that additional patience, understanding, or assistance may be helpful.
Many families find this provides an extra layer of support while traveling.
You can learn more about the program here:
Letting Go of Other People’s Opinions
Perhaps the biggest lesson I wish I had learned sooner had nothing to do with visual schedules, social stories, or travel planning.
I wish I had worried less about what other people thought.
As parents of autistic children, we often feel the weight of other people’s looks, comments, or judgments when our child is struggling in public.
It’s hard.
I understand that feeling.
But over time I learned that most people don’t truly understand what your child is experiencing in that moment.
Your child is not trying to be difficult.
Your child is doing the best they can.
And so are you.
While this is often easier said than done, one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is permission to focus on supporting your child rather than worrying about the opinions of strangers.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with an autistic child can absolutely be successful.
The right tools, preparation, and expectations can make a tremendous difference.
Every child is unique, and every family will discover strategies that work best for them. The important thing is knowing that support exists and that travel is possible.
As both the parent of an autistic adult and a Certified Autism Travel Professional, my goal is to help families feel confident in planning meaningful travel experiences that meet their unique needs.
I’ll be continuing this autism travel series in future blog posts, so stay tuned for more tips, personal experiences, and resources to help make travel easier and more enjoyable for your family.
Thank you for reading.
