Traveling can be challenging for children with autism. The changes in routine, unpredictability, crowds, new noises and sights can all make the experience difficult for those on the spectrum and their families.

But it can be done.

Melissa Raymond, owner and director of Milestones Behavioral Services, said a little planning can go a long way to opening doors to new travel opportunities for Southwest Louisiana families.

“More and more places — such as airports, theme parks and family destinations — are opening sensory friendly spaces for children and their families,” she said. “Many places now have calming areas, dim-lit areas, express check-in for those children who can’t wait in line. Once you have decided on your travel destination, set aside some time to call the hotels, theme parks and flights you plan to use to see if they offer convenient services and special accommodations for children with autism.”

Helping children with autism and their families is a passion of Raymond’s — but something she “fell into by chance.”

“I saw a flier hanging on a bulletin board at McNeese advertising working with a child with autism and it piqued my interest,” she said. “It’s something that is in my wheelhouse of things that I had already been doing. I went to the interview and fell in love with the field.”

Raymond went on to earn a Master of Arts in behavior analysis in 2009 from the University of Houston Clear Lake and became a licensed behavior analyst in 2014.

She is also a founder of Autism Scholar Inc., a non-profit organization that helps facilitate scholarly opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Raymond said her mission is to help children reach their developmental milestones and provide a fun and happy learning environment.

“Summer is such a fun time and the families we serve want to enjoy those summer vacations, so preparing ahead of time can really help their trips become a success,” she said. “You don’t want a family to not be able to go on a vacation because their child has special needs. Instead, you want to accommodate the special need, accommodate the child and accommodate the family. That way those families can enjoy a summer vacation just like everyone else.”

Something that could be beneficial when planning a vacation for a child with special needs is to use calendars or pictures of activities to help the child visualize what’s ahead for smoother transitions.

“Many children thrive on routine and vacation is usually way out of routine,” Raymond said. “You can help prepare the child by showing them pictures of where you’ll be going, showing them pictures of how you’ll be traveling, where you’ll be going when you get there, where you’ll be staying.”

Use this time to talk to your child about what he or she can expect, such as how they will arrive and who will be there.

A calendar can also be helpful for some children if they are able to track how many days until they leave, how long they’ll be gone and when they’re coming home.

“That way they know they will be going home, they will be getting back to their routine, they are going back to all of their favorite things at home, and it gives them a visual for when they reach that point,” she said.

Because new places, noises and crowds can be overwhelming for a child with autism, Raymond said it’s important to keep in mind what may be challenging for your child and have a plan for an exit strategy if needed.

“Often when you’re in a busy, crowded place, a lot of children — especially those with autism — get overwhelmed and they just need a few minutes of a break,” Raymond said. “You need to have an escape plan. If your child needs a minute to rest or relax or if they’re having a sensory overload and they need a minute, where can you go for that? Many places have a calming area or a sensory area. If not, you may have to plan that your vehicle will be that place for a short time. Of course, check to make sure you can get back into the attraction if so.”

Packing the right items to support a child’s needs can also make a world of difference when traveling. Most travel bag lists include sunscreen, snacks and comfortable shoes, but the checklists for autism families can be a bit longer. For long car rides or flights, have a good amount of activities available.

“You want to have the items that keep them entertained. If that’s an iPad, make sure you bring the charger. Maybe bring their favorite blanket, favorite sensory toy, be sure to bring all of their favorite things with you so that you can have something to help them be calm and regulated.”

Raymond said families should try to keep the vacation routine as predictable as possible, such as consistent mealtimes and bedtimes.

Also, be sure to praise the child when they are doing well.

“By giving positive feedback, the chances of your child repeating these good behaviors increase in the future,” Raymond said. “Celebrating the smallest of achievements or acts of good behavior can make a vacation more fun and successful for the whole family.”

When the child is having a hard time, there are ways parents can redirect that behavior.

“Focusing on what the child can be doing as an alternative is really important,” Raymond said. “If the child is upset about something, give them an alternative leisure activity for them to engage in. Try to shift gears and get the child doing something enjoyable.”

It’s also important for fellow travelers to be mindful of families with special needs children.

“When a child is being a little bit loud or disruptive while traveling, you can really reference the parent for that and see if there is anything that you can do to help,” Raymond said. “Another thing you can do is just be kind. Kindness is so important; often these parents are under a lot of stress traveling with their child with special needs and so being kind, a smile, a wave, and a ‘Can I help with anything?’ is helpful. Kindness goes a long way.”