Divergent Adventures is a specialized travel and training program designed for neurodivergent individuals and their families, with a focus on autistic travelers. The program doesn’t just offer a trip—it offers emotional, mental, and physical preparation to help families plan for, and truly enjoy, their travel experiences.
Gene Taylor, of Divergent Adventures, partnered with Visit Mesa, the country’s first Autism Certified City, to prototype the Divergent Adventures approach to helping families with autism travel. “They had 55 certified autism centers,” Gene says, “but not all of them were guest-facing.”
So he created what he calls a guest-facing guide: a comprehensive itinerary that begins the moment a family decides to travel and walks them step-by-step through every detail until they return home.
What began as an in-person escort service is now a highly detailed 20-page itinerary customized for seven-day trips. It includes everything from travel pacing to quiet room locations—designed to remove guesswork and help parents prepare their kids, and themselves.
“There’s no magic in being autism-certified,” Gene explains. “When you land, it’s not all going to be easy. In order to have a successful trip, you need to prepare your visitors. That means preparing your parents to prepare their kids.”
You can check out the full document here.
What Other Destinations Can Learn
Gene’s message to destinations is simple: certification is a start—but it’s not enough. Destinations need guest-facing plans that empower families before they arrive, not just signage once they’re there.
And Divergent Adventures is ready to help. With over 20 years of successful training programs and custom itineraries already in place, Gene welcomes collaboration. “If you’re looking for ways to partner with Divergent Adventures to welcome guests,” he says, “reach out.”
To learn more or connect, email Gene Taylor at gt@walkingconnection.com
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