Vacationing With Asperger's Syndrome - Suggestions For Making it a Pleasant Experience For Everyone

If you have someone in your house withFamily and friends are free to come visit us for
Asperger's Syndrome or autism, then you knowthe day, the child who is easily overstimulated
vacations can be very stressful. People with thisknows at the end of the day, he'll have his much
diagnosis don't like change and do like routine andneeded time, space and routine.
familiar surroundings. For years it was a miserableWhile it is a major pain and causes us to pack
experience to go on a family vacation. Soextra items, we also make sure we make the
miserable we wondered why we were putting"vacation house" feel like home. He has sensory
ourselves through the torture. However, we haveissues, so we bring the mini-trampoline with us
two "typical" children who needed to have thewherever we go. Otherwise he's jumping on the
experiences their brother avoids. Through trial,furniture or running back and forth in the unit. We
error and education, we came up with solutionscarry the bedtime bible, the pillow, the blanket and
which make vacations an enjoyable experiencethe stuffed animal. We also carry the "survival
for everyone. These solutions may not work forbackpack" which I wrote about in a separate
everyone, but give some a try. Keep what worksarticle.
and leave the rest on the coffee table to collectSince the timeshare units are fully furnished
dust.apartments, I plan to make most of the meals. I
For our family we stumbled upon a timeshareeither bring all the groceries with me for a week
program. No matter where we go in a timeshareof meals, or I shop immediately after checking in.
network, our son can be assured of familiar thingsI make sure all the meals are family favorites and
in each setting. The units are basically laid out,include the foods he'll eat. I also keep his special
furnished and stocked the same. He knows he'llcup on hand.
have a double bed to himself in a room he'll shareFinally, when he was younger, it was helpful to
with his younger sister. He knows he'll have ashow him pictures of the place we were going,
television in his room and a bathroom connectedshow him the map of how we were getting
to his room. He knows his clean clothes will be inthere, and a schedule of what he could expect to
the drawer three from the top and his dirtydo each day. I find he doesn't need this as much
clothes will go in the bottom drawer. He knows hisnow that he's older. It might be because we are
PS2 or Wii will be compatible with theusually going to the same places we've been
entertainment center in the living room. Ifbefore. More recently I've found I need to create
timeshares are not an option for you, considerand post a schedule of the weekly and daily
using the same hotel chain, campgrounds, friend'sactivities on the timeshare unit refrigerator. I also
and or family locations from vacation to vacation.bring and post the current behavior plan, rewards
Next, we've step up "routines" or traditions forand consequences. In this case, I print these
our vacations. For example, he knows duringahead of time and keep refrigerator magnets in
Spring Break we will go to the timeshare complexmy "timeshare" box.
near the same amusement park. We will ride theOf course, every child and family is different, so
same rides, eat the same foods and he will carryall of these ideas may not work for you.
the same park map. He knows during the stay hisHowever, if some do, then you'll find vacation a
dad will take him and his sister to the indoor poollittle less stressful and more relaxing. I'm curious
at least once a day and one night we'll go to theto know if this helped you. Please feel free to
same all-you-can-eat buffet. We've given up thecomment and let me know. Or to give you some
Christmas with the extended family in favor of aof your own tips.
week at another favorite timeshare location.