Summer Travels & Special Needs Parenting

Does the idea of traveling terrify you? Exhaust you? Overwhelm you before you’ve even started packing?

If you're a special needs family, you're not alone. Travel can bring incredible joy—but also real challenges, risks, and emotional weight. There are often so many logistics to consider and legitimate fears for safety and accessibility.

Will we be met with understanding and grace, or judgment?

When Mikey and I were teenagers, our family went on an amazing trip to Hawaii.

He loves swimming in pools—we joke that he is a “literal fish.” He can swim for hours and taught himself to hold his breath.

In the waves of the sandy beaches, he would flap his hands and make soft “oh” sounds that match the rhythm of the waves. Sitting on the shoreline, watching the water move, he always found a peace there that’s hard to describe but impossible to forget. It makes all the effort worthwhile.

But the flight was a different story.

We had a connecting flight in San Francisco, and it was an absolute nightmare.

My mom had notified the airline crew before boarding that nothing should be taken from my brother’s seat or tray table. It may not seem like a big deal to most, but for him, having control over his food and space is a big part of helping him feel safe.

But unfortunately, one flight attendant removed his food as the normal protocol calls for.

Almost instantly, he hit her right in the stomach.

I don’t think he was trying to hurt someone—but he felt unsafe, out of control, and triggered. We did everything we could to calm him down, but it didn’t work. After that, he was classified as a Level 2 threat. He wasn’t allowed to board the connecting flight from San Francisco. My mom had to stay overnight with him in a completely unfamiliar city to us. The rest of us had no choice but to continue on without them.

It was one of the most painful travel experiences we’ve had. And unfortunately, it wasn’t our fault. The airline wasn't equipped for these kind of disability-related needs.

So, can families like ours travel? Is it even worth trying?

Over the past few years, I’ve learned about and experienced some truly encouraging travel options through Certified Autism Centers (CACs). These are places that undergo specific staff training and meet standards for serving individuals with autism and other sensory or cognitive differences.

Some examples include:

• Theme Parks: Sesame Place, Legoland, Peppa Pig Theme Park, SeaWorld, Disney parks, and many Six Flags locations now offer quiet rooms, sensory guides, and trained staff who understand overstimulation, meltdowns, and communication differences.

• Cruises and Resorts: Autism on the Seas is a cruise line where staff are trained in disability support, and families can access adapted activities, early boarding, and sensory-friendly environments. Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos are also CACs, with programs designed for both children and adults on the spectrum.

• Cities Making Progress: Some cities have been certified as “Autism-Friendly Destinations,” including Mesa, Arizona; High Point, North Carolina; and Visalia, California. These cities are working to create inclusive experiences across hotels, attractions, and even local transportation.

• International Options: In Dubai, many hotels such as Vida Creek Harbour, Address Marina, and Palace Downtown have trained their hospitality staff through the CAC program. If you're looking for international travel, these are rare and valuable resources.

Certified Autism Centers often provide:

• Sensory guides for attractions

• Pre-travel support to prepare your child for the experience

• Adapted check-in procedures

• Calming spaces

• Priority access to avoid long waits

• Trained staff who understand behaviors like stimming, scripting, or shutdowns

But beyond all the planning, certifications, and logistics, there are moments that make everything worth it.

For my brother, that moment is the beach.

To be honest, the airline industry still has a long way to go. If you’re flying with someone who has a disability, remember that the Air Carrier Access Act protects your rights. Airlines are supposed to make reasonable accommodations, respect disability-related instructions, and ensure that crews are trained to handle those needs appropriately. That didn’t happen in our case—and it’s a reminder that we still need more awareness, more training, and more compassion.

So if you're wondering whether it's worth it—worth the planning, the advocating, the risk—my answer is yes.

Because every time I see Mikey by the water, flapping with the waves and humming his soft sounds, I’m reminded why we push through the hard parts.

Because those moments matter.

And because our families deserve memories too—not just meltdowns and emergency landings, but joy, peace, and presence.

We shouldn't have to fight so hard to experience that, but we often do. Still, we keep going. We keep hoping that the next place will be more prepared, more welcoming, more understanding. And little by little, some places really are.

So plan the trip. Do the extra research. Ask the hard questions. Speak up if something goes wrong. But don’t let fear steal your family’s chance to experience the world.

You belong there too.