FAMILY VACATIONS AND SPECIAL NEEDS

By Golda Turner

There is nothing as sweet as a family vacation in that ‘special place’. It can create warm childhood memories that bond a family together forever.

Though life is unpredictable for those of us dealing with special needs, a little bit of planning can help keep that vacation the special time that it should be.

Here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly.

• Be realistic—you know your child and how much he can take, even of a good thing! Plan your vacation around his abilities and tolerance level to reduce frustration and meltdowns.
• Prepare your child a couple of days in advance by getting him involved in the preparations. Talk about your plans, show pictures of where you will be going, let him pack in a few favorite items. Knowledge is security. Involvement is empowerment.
• Label all of his clothing and take along a good picture to help identify him in case he wanders off.
• Update his ‘medical records’ book and make sure you pack it in together with your insurance cards.
• Take an extra few days worth of all medications and supplies, ‘just in case’.
• If you have accessibility issues, call ahead and speak to a manager at hotels to ask very specific questions about their level of accessibility. The reservationists at central 800 numbers really don’t know!
• Accessible rooms are very limited, so confirm those reservations as early as possible.
• Call ahead to check into the accessibility of attractions. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises and disappointed children.
• All airlines are not equal. If you will be flying and have a family member with mobility or medical issues, speak directly to the airline before booking regarding their policy. Not every airline will assist with transferring to or from seats. Some airlines require a doctor’s note for medically involved patients. Ask about using oxygen or medical devices onboard.
• If you will need to pass airport security and have concerns about carrying needed medications, medical equipment, etc, call the TSA at 855-787-2227
• If you are traveling by car, take along a few new games, books, or other activities to keep the kids busy. Personal CD players or MP3s are a blessing—their music and stories will keep most kid’s attention for quite awhile.

Make your child with special needs the star of the show—if he is able to, let him hold the tickets, buy everyone drinks, be in charge of the nosh, or whatever it takes to make your other kids appreciate—rather than resent---that he came along. As with anything else in life, a little PR goes a long way!

Most of all, try to relax inside and leave your daily cares behind. Vacation is the best time to give your children the personal attention that they need and crave. Children pick up on their parent’s emotions. If you are relaxed and enjoying their company, chances are that your kids will behave pretty well and enjoy, too! Memories of even a short but pleasant vacation can last a lifetime, bonding siblings in a way that nothing else can.