The
holidays are fast approaching & so is
the holiday travel season. Maybe
your plans include a holiday visit with
extended family members or maybe just a
family get-away while the kids are on
school break. Either way, you'll
want to start planning now.
Traveling with a special needs child can
be wonderful for everyone, but it's
definitely not a spur of the moment
activity. Here are some tips
to help make your trip a true success!
1.
Be brave!
Many
families with special needs kids are just
plain scared of trips away from
home. The thought of trying to do
sensitive medical procedures "on the
road" or deal with behavioral
outbursts in front of a family crowd is
simply too overwhelming too
contemplate. Unless your doctor or
specialist has specifically ruled out
travel, don't let your fears take
over! Everyone needs to get away
once & awhile and a little planning
& preparation can put many of your
fears too rest.
2.
Planning is everything!
Map
out your trip & select destinations
and rest stops that can accommodate you
& your child's needs. If you
are planning a trip by car this will mean
checking accessibility at your final
destination as well as any places you'll
be stopping or staying en route. If
you're not sure what type of questions to
ask, try this Accessibility
Checklist. In
addition to getting in the door safely,
you'll also want to consider what items
you'll need for bedtime, bathtime, &
mealtimes. By calling ahead you can
bring along anything that your
destinations simply don't have
available. If any of your
destinations seems totally unable to meet
your needs don't be shy about asking for
other recommendations in the area.
Maybe the knowledge that they lost a
potential customer will inspire them to
improve their accessibility.
3.
Consult with your child's
physician.
Ask
for recommendations, tips, and a special
"travel pack" with items you
may need in case of an emergency.
You travel pack might include items
like:
a list
of any prescription drugs
your child is taking and a
copy of the prescription
(just in case)
a
physician's description
letter of your child's
condition and needs in case
of an emergency
phone
numbers, e-mail addresses,
and/or pager numbers of your
home physicians/specialists.
recommendations
for physicians &
specialists in the area
you're visiting.
health
insurance cards and phone
numbers (be sure you've
reviewed your insurance
policy before you leave
– many require prior
approval before out of town
emergency room or doctor's
visits)
phone
numbers of any necessary
medical supply company
4.
Pack more than you need of the special
items your child requires.
Remember
that old saying "better safe than
sorry". Well it goes double
when you're traveling. Everyone is
bound to be a little off schedule &
out of sorts. Don't set yourself up
for problems by running out of a critical
item. It is always better to have
too much rather than too little.
Plus with a few extras on hand you won't
be rattled when a well-meaning family
member accidentally drops or spills
precious medicine!
5.
Make a small checklist of items that
cannot be left behind.
If
your special needs child has favorite
toys, security items or essential medical
items you don't want to discover them
"missing" half way home.
Make a list as you pack of all essential
items & double check it before
you leave each stop of your journey.
6.
Find a mode of transportation that meets
your specific needs.
If
your goal is to make your trip as stress
free as possible, this can be a critical
choice. Is your destination close
enough to travel by car? Would air
or train travel put you too far from
emergency medical personnel for an
extended period? Does your child
require specialized seating
support? What type of travel works
best with their seating system? If
you're working with a travel agent be
sure to ask about special guidelines or
requirement for passengers with
disabilities. An excellent resource
of detailed information about the
logistics of planning accessible travel
by plane, train, bus and ship is
Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and
Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
by Candy Harrington.
7.
Don't Be Shy
During
your travels you're bound to run into
individuals who don't know what to do or
how to react to an individual with
special needs. As diplomatically as
you can, let people know what you need
& expect them to make accommodations
for your child's special needs.
Most people will be more than happy to
help. If they offer you a room or
seating accommodation that just won't
work, politely decline & explain
again what you need & why. Look
at as an opportunity to do your part for
disability awareness!
8.
Remember it's a "family" trip
If
it's your first trip away from home, you
will naturally be concerned about how
your special needs child is getting
along. That's to be expected.
But don't forget your other family
members! Be sure you offer some
quality time & attention to your
other kids as well. Use time while
your special needs child is napping or
occupied with a favorite toy to chat with
older kids & reconnect. They
will thank you by having a much more
cooperative & supportive attitude
during the times when your attention has
to be focused on your special needs
child.
9.
Plan a day of rest (or maybe 2!)
Even
the most experienced travelers experience
jet lag & it's not just confined to
air travel! Expect both your kids &
your own body to need some down time when
you arrive at your destination &
again when you arrive home. Make
sure to allow a day for rest &
recovery before you dive back into your
hectic routine.
10.
Don't expect perfection your first time
out
Traveling,
like everything else, is an acquired
skill. If you're first trip doesn't
turn out perfectly, don't give up! Sit
down (after you've rested) & analyze
what went wrong. How could you have
prepared differently or more
effectively? Which of your
destinations & stopovers worked
well? Which ones just need to be
crossed off your list? Chances are
if your holiday trip was to visit family
you'll be traveling that road
again. Time spent establishing
relationships along the road can be time
well invested!
Just remember,
every trip is a learning experience for
you & a precious family memory for
you children! Safe travels!
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