TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Autism

Universal Orlando’s Autism Superhero Saves a Family’s Vacation

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A scene with many people along a street that is packed with shops and a fire breathing dragon at Universal Orlando studios

Vacationer Lenore Koppelman and her son were extremely excited to take a spin on the Spiderman ride at Universal Orlando. But when it temporarily broke down during their visit—Ralph did too. An Orlando resort staffer (who saw Ralph was upset) also had a not-so-typical response: She lay down on the ground next to him and began to try to comfort him, according to USA TODAY.
If you’re wondering: What are the chances that a resort staffer would feel comfortable doing this?  You will be pleasantly surprised. Part of a growing trend, Universal Orlando’s staff is Autism Certified by IBCCES. In short, that means they have been trained to solve problems and make accommodations for families traveling with a child with autism or other special needs. This type of training is a game changer for the travel industry and neuro-diverse families who want the best experience for their family on vacation. A fellow mom who saw Koppelman’s Facebook post about the day said it best when she wrote in the page comments

“Thank you for sharing. This means so much to me, a mom of an awesome autist. #UniversalStudios, Can you teach me how to train the world to accept our children like your staff does? I, too, thank you for making this child’s day special.”

OUR TAKE: There will several renowned panelists devoted to talking about the topic of making travel easier for families with children that have special needs at the upcoming TravelAbility Summit.

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Are There Any New Solutions to Help Travelers on the Autism Spectrum Enjoy More and Worry Less?

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children's drawing of a family in the airportThe answer is Yes! Two ideas, both developed by people who have autistic family members, are worth reviewing:

1. In Brisbane Airport, lanyards that travelers wear discreetly alert staff that they may need help during travel. Of course, behind the lanyards is a lot of staff training. The combination of understanding and ability to advocate for oneself is proving to be a success.  Read the stories of families who have tried it and the mom who created the program after a traumatic trip with her teenage daughter here.

founder Naomi speaking on a youtube video about Magnus , a cartoon who appears in the top right corner of the screen

2. A customize-able mobile app designed to prepare travelers who experience things like noise, bright lights and touch very differently. The mobile app from MagnusMode, also inspired by an autistic family member, makes new situations easier to manage The app runs a potential traveler through scenarios that could be loud, noisy or uncomfortable, for example. SFO airport will be the first U.S. airport to offer the program, which has already proven successful with attractions such as zoos and aquariums. Read more here.

Visit Mesa Becomes First Autism-Certified Destination Marketing Organization 

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girl with headphones on smilingVisit Mesa, a destination marketing organization, has a new distinction—and a new market: 32 million families affected by autism. The staff and governing board of directors of Visit Mesa completed more than 100 hours of specialized training to help families and individuals with special needs to prepare for the perfect trip. It is now raising the bar even higher by requesting partner businesses in Mesa’s hospitality community to follow their lead and become Autism Certified Centers via the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Read about them in a recent New York Times article.

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Yes! America’s Top Attractions Are ‘Getting with the Program’

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a view of a orange water slide at Nicks hotel a

There are 3.5 million Americans are currently living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the prevalence of autism in U.S. children is becoming the fastest-growing developmental disability, according to experts.

In response, many of the country’s largest family-friendly attractions are training staff to be knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of autistic travelers. Some of the first attractions to become Autism Certified Centers include Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universal, Sesame Place, and Sea World.

If you have an autistic friend or family member, it’s likely you’ve become accustomed to making small but significant changes to your plans when you do things together. You may also be able to read the signs that a child is over-stimulated, uncomfortable or eager to do something over and again.

But many businesses aren’t there—yet. Any destination or attraction can take part in an IBCCES’s certification program, even training hundreds of staffers using their program. The result is that staff will be able to fully interact with visitors and appreciate neurodiversity. Certification is not simple—it can take weeks or months depending on the size of your staff—but it’s an undertaking whose time has come. Learn more at IBCCES.

 

 

 

 

Birmingham Airport Opens Sensory Room for Autistic Passengers

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silhouette of a boy walking through airport very serene photo The Birmingham, Alabama Airport Authority’s goal is to make air travel less overwhelming for people with autism and similar conditions. Their new sensory room was developed in partnership with a children’s autism nonprofit group. According to this report, “the addition makes Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport the second airport in the country with a sensory room and the first in the nation with such a room designed for autism but also PTSD, dementia and other conditions.

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