Comments on: Travel and The Autistic Child

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:41:05 +0000

If you have a medical problem a letter obtained from the doctor may allow you to take special food on the plane.

By: Estee

Estee — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:38:45 +0000

Adam is ear sensitive — he won’t wear earphones. It’s something that we have to keep de-sensitizing and practicing at home as I think he would enjoy watching videos, even, much more when he’s wearing them.

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:56:00 +0000

I’m an adult on the spectrum and I love to travel (this has caused problems with past psychs and diagnosis, in fact). Like Adam, I really like exploring at my own pace, and that includes new places–even some that may have been sensory overloads have turned out to be excellent, like NYC. I really like Maddy’s suggestion of noise-cancelling earphones. If he likes the feel of them, the big soft over the ear type may be a good start, though they can be expensive. They tend to knock my glasses off, but I do like how they feel! Like Adam, I have a difficult time calming down on flights enough to sleep (though it’s excitement for me), and having a new book on tape is a huge help. I’m not sure if it’ll be of use for you, but the act of having to pay attention and listen to the story is very distracting, and can at least make me a bit drowsy. Between that and the map of where the plane is that all overseas flights seem to have, I managed to fall asleep both flying to and from Australia out of the US.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:00:46 +0000

We take my son to Europe for a month every year as half of our family lives in Switzerland. I think part of the reason why it has been OK for us is that Oliver is used to the traveling. The other thing is his own natural curiosity. I think he is the happiest when he is moving about and seeing the world. I think he inherited that from both sides :-)

We tend to pack one carry on full of the things that will make the flight tolerable (and yes, benedryl and melatonin are at the top of the list!!) plus art supplies, music and play doh. The playdoh is essential for us — unfortunately I also found out on the last trip that it is a banned substance!! Luckily, when I explained our circumstances they let us keep enough for the flight. Also, I pack fruit and foods that he can have rather than waiting on the meal service.

I also ALWAYS tell the crew as soon as we board — just in case.

Also, if you have a child without much language consider finding something for him to wear with contact information in the language of the country where you are traveling. I’ve lost Oliver for short times (twice) and there is nothing more frightening!!

I hope you make it to Italy soon!!

By: Estee

Estee — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:34:41 +0000

Both of you have different experiences which is why it’s so important to share. Adam is pretty good. Some flights are excellent. Sometimes he just has had enough. He has become quite an exceptional at waiting — we’ve had experience. He can go through security just fine too — I go in first and then ask him to follow me after… he listens very well.

Taking all your own stuff on the plane is super good…but guess what? There is no more carry-on baggage allowed to the U.S…. so I think parents are going to have to contact the airline well in advance for a special permission (if that’s at all possible).

My concern is the sleep on an overnight flight where Adam may not relax enough to sleep. I think that “rehearsals” are important along with social stories well in advance of travel. And if you are going to try a sleep aid, talk with a doctor and trial it in advance. It still may not work on the flight, but at least you will know if it’s safe and if it MAY work.

By: Leila

Leila — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:49:57 +0000

Hi Estee, I’ve taken my autistic son to day-long airplane trips since he was a baby and he loves them. We had some difficulties when he was 3yo, and didn’t want to use the seat belt. Right before the next time we travelled, the therapists made a custom social story for him and when the day came he sat down on the airplane and immediately bucked up, all excited (because he wanted to do it just like he saw on the little “book”). The toys we give him to distract him during flights are things like Leapster (handheld game), hangman, coloring sheets, and portable DVD players. Luckily he sleeps well on night flights. We also have to bring his own food because he won’t touch the airplane meals. PB&J sandwiches are easey to bring and make on board.

By: Maddy

Maddy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:56:33 +0000

Not lurking, just lots of interruptions.

Where to begin. We’ve made a transatlantic trip from San Francisco to London for 7 consecutive years.

I begin to worry about the trip approximately one month before departure and prepare accordingly.

What we experience is probably quite different from some other people. You mention that Adam is curious – that’s going to help a lot. Whilst mine are also curious, their curiosity doesn’t dominate in such circumstances. What dominates is the need to keep everything the same [routine] and remain inside. These two issues dominate.

Secondary issues [possibly primary issues?] are a severe fear of flying and air sickness. When you child vomits on the passenger in front of them everyone will hate you – still only ten hours of vitreol to go.

Long check in times don’t help.

Removing shoes = big problem.

Walking unaccompanied through security checker = big problem.

All this before we’ve even managed to get on the darned plane. Even a relatively small child can hang on to the door frame with their legs akimbo and effectively block the entry of the other 349 people behind you. Mind you most of the 349 people don’t want to get on any more because if you scream ‘plane fall down’ at 50 decibels, you don’t endear yourself to other passengers.

Lets try a positive spin and some practicalities.

If you have a bolter, buy reins = everyone will hate you but at least you won’t lose your child [ren] It actually helps them feel less panicky.

Steal one of those safety guides from the seat pocket / make your own. Practice all the safety checks at home, use chairs, get family and friends involved as it’s empowering to know that when the plane does fall down they know exactly what to do. Don’t try and convince the child that the plane will not fall down you’ll just feed the fear, instead teach them how to cope e.g. swim or paddle a boat.

As you say – do not give a child Antihistamine to make them drowsy unless you’ve had a practice first – a small percentage of children [mine] go into hyperdrive.

Take pull-ups even if your child is potty trained as they may sleep and it may be too difficult to get to the bathroom in time.

Desensitize your child to headphones at least six months in advance of the trip – you may need to take that pair with your rather than use the planes ones. Noise cancelling ones could be handy too – planes are very noisy and they vibrate.

Find some kind of small sweet / candy that your child can tolerate [especially if they only eat three things] so that they can suck on ‘it’ and stop their ears from exploding.

Make sure that each step is generalized – encourage therapists, teachers, aides, family and friends to all sing the same reinforcing tune.

That’s all I can think of for the moment – you can always e-mail me and then I can return a whole heap of luck in your direction.

Cheers