Air travel is an exciting as well as a worrying experience for children suffering from autism spectrum disorder – ASD. Their life experiences are different and vary from even others who have the same disorder. So, if you plan to take your child with autism with you on your next air trip, here are some things that you would have to keep in mind.
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1) As you would have booked your air tickets, you would know how many weeks are left for your trip. You can create a word or picture story with your child that will explain to him or her about the air-travel journey. You can include pictures or explanations of the airplane, baggage claim, security, etc. The travel process should be repeated to your autistic child on a regular basis so that he becomes familiar with the journey and is prepared for the same.
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2) Mark the air travel dates on a calendar of the departure and arrival and hang them in the room where your child visits the most. Seeing the dates marked will remind him about the planned travel. Take comfort items like blankets or toys from your home in your bag for the trip. At times, having homely things with them will make children with autism feel better in unfamiliar environments.
3) You can pack your meals and snacks from home for your child. At times, the meals available at the airport may not suit your child’s dietary needs. Also, having a variety of mini-meals will help your child to chew foods whenever he or she feels hungry.
4) You can encourage your child to exercise before leaving for your travel from home. It is because there would be long hours of inactivity at the airport and on airplanes. So, probably you can play a game at home that involves running, jumping, etc. for at least half an hour before you leave for your journey.
5) Encourage your child with autism to explain the travel process with you or to his toys or friends. This will help you understand how much your child has understood and learned from you about air travel. Keep things easier for your child to explain his ideas and knowledge. Do not get impatient if your child is not giving you accurate information. You can simply repeat the process till your child gets it right.
Children with autism spectrum disorder may or may not feel comfortable if you take them to unknown places without giving them any prior idea or information. It is essential that their needs are also considered important as much as yours even if you feel it is not needed. Making them feel good and safe is your duty and as a parent to deal with a specially-abled child will make you feel vulnerable many times. However, not giving up and keeping your positive energies always up will help you go on the beautiful journey of parenting a child with autism. Remember every child is a gift of God, so accepting your child as he or she is will only make things easier and simpler for you in this life’s journey.
