VOLUME 01
ISSUE 12


Travel Considerations
ON THE SPECTRUM IN
ADULTHOOD

July 23, 2020

A NEWSLETTER PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THE
ADULT AUTISM COMMUNITY


Brought to you by the
Rutgers Center for Adult
Autism Services (RCAAS)
A MESSAGE FROM THE SCALE DIRECTOR
As a person who has spent the past decade of his life getting married, having kids, being in graduate school, and advancing his career, travel was not the priority. My wife and I promised each other, that after I completed my doctoral program, we would take a family vacation to Disney World. We were all so excited and looking forward to this trip; however, my wife and I also experienced a lot of stress in planning the trip. Granted, this trip was last year, before COVID-19, but we still were concerned about how my then 4- and 5-year-old children would handle the many nuances and potential issues that could arise. That said, I will forever cherish the memories I have on this vacation with my family. We laughed, we cried, we were silly, and we grew closer because of our time together on the trip.

However, my experience with taking a vacation is my own. While I find traveling exciting and cathartic, others may find the prospect of traveling overwhelming and daunting. Even with the potential mental health benefits, traveling, for you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life, may raise concerns such as the need to communicate clearly, disrupted routines, or the unknown. This may affect your decision to even take a vacation. In this issue of our e-newsletter, we offer the benefits of traveling, tips and resources to help plan for and stay safe while away, and how to address challenges that may arise while you are on your trip. While the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing problem potentially affecting travel plans, these tips and resources could still be of benefit for "smaller" trips.

Be well,

James Maraventano, EdD, BCBA-D
Director, RCAAS-SCALE Program
THE BENEFITS OF TRAVELING WITH THOSE CLOSE TO YOU
Christeen Z. Scarpa, MS
Behavior Technician, RCAAS-SCALE Program
Summertime is here; that time of year when many families look to take some days away from their typical routines and travel together. There are many important, positive, and socially significant reasons to travel with your family and/or those close to you. Traveling helps to strengthen family bonding by promoting happiness, experiencing new places and cultures together, and making fun new memories. For adults on the autism spectrum, traveling may promote other important life skills such as increased independence and social interaction and reduce feelings of social isolation.

While you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life may find comfort being at home and sticking to routines, traveling with your family or those close to you may help remove that sense of isolation and improve certain limitations related to independence and socializing. Taking a trip may allow for quality time spent together, where you can learn more about each other and do things together that you and/or the person on the autism spectrum in your life wouldn't normally have time for during the busy work day.

Yes, there may be some challenges experienced while traveling, but the potential interactions and experiences from these trips could far outweigh the challenges. Further, activities of daily living such as adapting to sleeping in different hotel rooms or purchasing items from new places, are useful life skills that may promote independence and further facilitate future travel plans. Additionally, the educational benefits derived from these new experiences should not be overlooked. Experiencing different cultures, visiting museums or historic places, exploring national parks, and interacting with nature may increase your own interests and love for learning.

For additional information on how traveling can benefit all, visit the Autistic Globetrotting website. This website offers travel tips, reviews, personal experiences, and more, specifically geared towards traveling as a family member of and as an individual on the autism spectrum. Specifically, their page Why Traveling with Autism is Beneficial for Families offers several benefits to traveling as it relates to educational and social development opportunities and by raising general autism awareness at the destinations that you may visit.
PLANNING FOR THE TRIP
Whitney Pubylski-Yanofchick, MSW, BCBA
Behavior Analyst, RCAAS-SCALE Program
Traveling can be an intimidating and stressful experience for anyone. Further, it can be especially stressful for individuals on the autism spectrum; even more so during the time of COVID-19. In order to keep the ‘routine’ as much as possible while traveling, make sure to include your travel plans in whatever means you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life typically uses to keep track of upcoming events. This may be through use of the calendar app on their smart phone, physical activity schedules, or, some other method of signaling activities and transitions. When possible, try to incorporate as much of your typical routine into your travel plans. For example, bringing along a preferred food item (e.g., your favorite breakfast bar) or something personal that may be comforting (e.g., a pillow from home for the flight).

Leading up to your trip, practice wearing a mask often, so that you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life will be better prepared to wear masks throughout your trip. Check out this link from Autism NJ for tips on how to explain why wearing a mask is important and strategies to promote success. The Harvard Medical School recommends practicing wearing a mask with a loved one and planning short, enjoyable trips into the community as you and/or the individual on the autism spectrum in your life become used to wearing the mask for longer periods.

Now that you ready to go into the community safely, you can plan your trip. Check out this article, which offers advice on traveling for you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life. Familiarize yourself with the desired location’s access to preferred activities, Wi-Fi availability/cost, favorite foods, and guidance related to COVID-19 precautions and/or closures.

Many popular attractions are proactively training staff to provide accommodations for guests on the autism spectrum. Employees of these venues will be familiar with accommodations that can be made at their particular facility. You or the person on the autism spectrum in your life may find that applying for and presenting an International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standard (IBCCES) Accessibility Card at venues during your travel to be a helpful way to communicate any support needs or accommodations that may improve your travel experience.
PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE CHALLENGES WHILE TRAVELING
Courtney Butler, MS, BCBA
Program Coordinator, RCAAS-CSP
Now that you have some ideas about the benefits of traveling and have some helpful tips for the trip, it is important to think about the potential challenging circumstances that may arise. It is always better to be prepared and have a plan in place so you can enjoy your trip!

Be prepared for those who may not understand.

  • More and more people are educating themselves about autism, however, there are many who may not understand certain behaviors that may be present during this stressful time. Traveling can be difficult for anyone; there are often long lines, crowded spaces, and others travelers who are just as frustrated with traveling. Remember, your main concern is you and/or your party's safety and happiness. Do your best to ignore those around you who do not exhibit empathy and common courtesy.
  • Should you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life be treated unfairly or denied certain accommodations, seek the help of management at the visiting site and avoid unnecessary conflict. This will help to relieve any potential additional stress that you or the adult on the autism spectrum in your life may already be experiencing.

Pace your day.

  • Try to keep an easy and accommodating pace during your travels. A hectic schedule may increase any struggles you may have. Pacing the day with a lighter schedule (e.g., activities spaced out, building in time for breaks, etc.) may decrease the likelihood of challenging behavior and ease the transitions from one place to another.

Prepare meals and other necessities.

  • You or the person on the autism spectrum in your life may have selective eating patterns and/or a variety of food items may not be available during each of your trips. Pre-planning a trip to a researched restaurant or bringing preferred foods with you may avoid additional stress or challenging behaviors.

Prepare several plans.

  • If plans A, B, & C do not work, go to plan D. It is important to think of back up options, in case you encounter a destination that is overstimulating or out of your comfort zone.
  • If you are experiencing stress from traveling, perhaps the last solution is going back to your rented vehicle or hotel room for a quiet break. For additional information on traveling with autism, check out this resource.

Although there may be variables that are intimidating while traveling, the benefits are incredibly rewarding. Perhaps, a close-to- home, short vacation may be an option to gradually build and prepare for longer or more elaborate vacations. No matter what you plan for, remember to relax and have fun making new memories!

FINDING THE RIGHT DESTINATION
Autism Travel is a website that has compiled a list of popular travel destinations considered to be "autism-friendly." These different locations have been certified to cater to the needs of people on the autism spectrum and other populations with special needs. You can also be connected to travel agents who can help you plan a trip with the needs of the autistic adult in mind. For a list of IBCCES Certified Organizations, check out their Autism Travel Directory to get ideas for your next trip.
TAKING FLIGHT
From getting to the airport, checking-in, getting though security, finding your gate, and managing any other unexpected events such as a gate change or delayed flight, the prospect of flying to a destination can be stressful. Fortunately, several resources exist to help prepare you for flying.

Madison House Autism provides five tips for air travel. It discusses how to get familiar with the airport, identify challenges before getting to the airport, how to use the resources available to meet the autistic adult's needs, and prepare their documents. It also includes free travel resources such as a TSA notification card for people with different disabilities.

When an adult with autism is comfortable flying during the pandemic, Family Traveller has tips about how to communicate different needs. Some examples include: which airlines allow pre-boarding for the autistic population, special seating on the plane, and programs offered by airlines that assist people with their fear of flying. Check out their 10 best airlines for families with autism.
TIPS TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL ISSUES
Sensory processing issues can make traveling an unpleasant experience for the adult on the autism spectrum and/or their caregiver. Understood shares some tips on how to handle sensory overload and how to avoid meltdowns while traveling. The article includes info about how to practice for the trip, the importance of frequent breaks, and how following familiar routines can be helpful.
PEER PERSPECTIVE
This interview with Katie Oswald, an autistic woman, goes into depth about her own traveling experiences. She discusses how having the independence to explore new cultures and meet new people helped broaden her perspective of the world and built her confidence. In this interview with The Art of Autism, she detailed her trip to Uganda and how it was life-changing for her.

Disclaimer: any one person on the autism spectrum can have varying symptoms. This perspective is not meant to be generalizable to all people on the spectrum.
QUOTE OF
THE WEEK
 “Live life with no excuses,
travel with no regret."

-Oscar Wilde
ANNOUNCEMENT:
We invite you to tune in on Wednesday, July 29th, to GSAPP’s Beautiful Mind Summit, where RCAAS Executive Director, Dr. Christopher Manente, will present “The Stigma of Autism: The Dangers of Equating Neuro-differences with Disability.” Dr. Manente will explore the factors contributing to the lack of available high-quality programs for adults with ASD, the barriers to successful outcomes, and the model provided by the RCAAS to address these barriers for adults on the spectrum with a diverse range of support needs. There will also be an interactive Q&A. Hope you're able to join us! To register for this free event, go to: www.beautifulmindsummit.com. Click the Agenda tab to view the day’s list of virtual presentations and workshops.
NEWSLETTER TEAM
Dr. James Maraventano, Editor-in-Chief
Rugved Deshpande, Circulation Manager
Kim Spinelli, Senior Copy Editor
Norna Jules, Resources Contributor
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