One of the best things about summer is going on vacation.  For some folks, lounging up at the cottage is their holiday; for others, a trip abroad, or a car trip with the kids is their ticket!  As those of you with children will know, sometimes even a short car trip can wreak havoc on your nerves with….”Are we there yet?”….”I’m bored”….”I have to go the washroom again”…..”I’m thirsty”….etc.  But, for some families, a trip can present a whole array of other challenges.

For families dealing with autism, sometimes new places and sites can trigger meltdowns and anxiety.  Sleeping on a different bed in a hotel, eating at different restaurants at unfamiliar places, or going on an airplane can have serious consequences, and, as a result, make a vacation anything but enjoyable. 

One way to help make things go a little more smoothly is to create a picture schedule.  Picture schedules are a visual way of showing what is going to happen and when.  It gives a child with autism or anxiety issues something to refer to.  Our CD-ROM called “Places You Go, Things You Do” is an excellent resource that allows you to create visual schedules from thousands of photos including planes, trains, stores, restaurants, hotels, and much more.  You can create a picture schedule of the actual journey from the moment you leave your house, and create a schedule for each day of your trip, incorporating the different “sights and smells” of your travel itinerary.  The CD can also be used for family outings to various community places.

Another good resource is “Community Places Bingo”.  This bingo game comes with full-colour bingo boards that feature businesses and services available in most cities and communities.  As each player plays the game, s/he learns to recognize community places including airport, hotel, restaurant, movie theatre, post office, etc.  I think this would be a great game to bring on a trip, and easy to play in a hotel room.

Please visit our website at www.challengingminds.com for more examples of products that can help summer vacations go a little smoother for all families.

Sophie Dedman

Director