Tips for Traveling with Disabled Children During the Holidays

They need your help.

The work of a parent never stops. Every time they go out of their house with their children they need to keep absolutely everything in check. Did they take the toys, the food, the extra clothes, the snacks, the favorite stuffed animal? Did they forget something? Of course, that extra sweater in case the weather gets chilly! How could they forget? And would you look at the time? They’ll lose the flight; they’ll be late to the party; they won’t make it to the play! One could say that being a parent is like practicing an extreme sport sometimes.

Now imagine what it’s like for parents of children with special needs. They don’t only need to be sure that all former things are taken care of, they also have to watch out for all their medical needs. The syringes, the medicines that they must take several times a day, the wheelchair. One could say that being a parent of a child with special needs is like practicing an extreme sport at all times. At least, traveling definitely is. Here are a few tips to make your life easier if you’re one of them!

Start small

One thing you should take into account is that your kid probably isn’t used to all the movement, changes and noises that involve traveling long distances. If you make a long trip the first time around, you and your family are probably bound to hate it or spend the whole time stressed beyond belief.  Travel close to your home, start with little trips so your child can get used to what traveling means and what it involves. Try peaceful destinations at first, such as the beach or the mountains, and start escalating from there.

Make a plan

The more you plan, the less likely it is for things to go south. Make a list two weeks before the trip and start gathering all that your child will need; you can also add any extra items that you find necessary before traveling. Map out your trip and talk to your kid about it, get him or her used to the idea, show them pictures, so they know what to expect once you get there. If you’re staying in a hotel, ask for their accessibility to children with special needs.

Consult with your child’s physician

If you have any doubts about the things your child could need when you’re out of town, be sure to contact his or her physician so they can help you figure out the best way to pull this through. Have him write you a medical letter. This way, if your kid needs any type of assistance, every medical services provider will know his or her medical history thanks to it. You can also ask the doctor what things could be harmful to your child and what could you do with them without any risk. Try finding numbers or references of pediatricians in the area you’ll be visiting.

Find transportation to meet specific needs

If you’re going to fly, pick the airline wisely. Some of them do better than others when it comes to accommodating individuals with special needs. Prepare your kid for the experience of flying or traveling by any other mean. Show them pictures or videos and read about it with them. The TSA has launched a brand new helpline for individuals with special needs, called TSA Cares Travellers, may call 1-855-787-2227 before traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint.

Finally, remember that it’s a family trip that’s supposed to be fun. It might not be on the first attempt, but don’t give up just yet. Try to anticipate any possible scenario that could upset your child and prepare beforehand. Give yourself a day to rest once you’re at the destination, kids get tired pretty quickly, and they might need the extra rest to recover some of their energy. If you’re traveling these holidays, we hope you have an awesome time! See you in January at Autism Soccer with more of our content.

You can have so much fun!

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How to Deal with Strangers When Raising Children with Special Needs

Always try to be a bigger person.

Once you’ve started to live your life with a child with special needs, many prejudices and misconceptions, that you possibly had, simply go away. You learn all there is to know about their condition, and you understand that there are things in life that are more important than simple “normalcy.” But not everyone is like you. Somehow, you’ll have to learn to live with the curious glances of strangers, as well as uncomfortable questions and remarks.

However, one thing that comes with raising a child with special needs is strength. You learn that while you’re not able to control every circumstance around you or have a say in what people do or talk, you do have the power to decide how you react to external factors in your life. This means that, somewhere along the way, you also understand how to deal the best with strangers or people who don’t know what your life is really like.

One of the things that you need to remember is that most of the time people don’t have bad intentions. Every case is different, of course, but they usually are just curious and want to ask or learn about the subject. Sure, they might make ignorant comments or treat you with pity, as if something extremely terrible had happened to you, but meetings like this could end up being a great opportunity to raise awareness and destroy some prejudices.

It’s not your job to educate people, and it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it or put yourself under that pressure. Some parents find that explaining their child’s condition to strangers makes it easy for themselves to stop seeing it as something different or weird. It can also help kids get the feeling that it’s okay to talk about who they are and that they shouldn’t feel embarrassed for it.

You’re not under any obligation to share your kid’s medical diagnosis with anyone. People shouldn’t expect you to do it either, but there isn’t much one can do about that. It’s okay to say no or politely redirect the conversation somewhere else, and you’ll find it’s actually liberating to do what you feel like doing without caring for what strangers might think. Because that’s the thing: they’re strangers. They probably don’t want to know that much, and you most likely won’t be seeing them ever again.

You might get frustrated with society’s views on people who are different and sometimes you’ll feel fed up of everyone gawking or staring at your child as if he or she wasn’t an individual with feelings and thoughts of their own. It’s okay to feel like that, and it’s okay to vent. We’re still fighting for a more inclusive and accepting society, but sadly, many times our legislation is ahead of our own culture. No one has the power to determine your own happiness and peace of mind though. At the end of the day, you’ll have a beautiful presence by your side that’s ready to love, be loved and from which you can get all the positive energy you need to carry on.

Don't let their words affect you.

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