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What Coping Skills Help You When Traveling?

September 17, 2019 By Jodi Murphy Leave a Comment

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Man sitting in terminal looking out window to see airplane taking off

Issue 16’s Big Question
What coping skills or accommodations help you and/or your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder when traveling?

Gretchen McIntire, our Guest Editor, asked this question to the #ActuallyAutistic Community on Twitter and Facebook. Here’s what they had to say:


“I’m pretty cool with travelling but I’ll always appreciate someone showing me how to buy then use train tickets, because I’m scared I’ll mess it up. Planes I hate with a passion. I have noise cancelling earphones and a comfort object (could be a fidget toy) on me, usually.”

Holly, @blukodibear


“Always have an exit strategy”

Sandi, @sandyquill


“Researching the locations I’m traveling to. If it’s a business or someone’s home, Google maps is extremely helpful as I can view details about the street, parking, etc. Also helpful are the photos of businesses, reviews, and Q&A section. Ultimately, the key is preparedness.”

Katie, @K8EMusic


“When my son was younger he really liked me to lay out step by step where we were going & we would repeat it over & over in the car. Now, at 21 yrs old, he likes to know where we are going and what we’re doing there—aka how long this is gonna take. ?”

Julie, @AllThingsJules


“Loose clothing, a drink and a snack available, headphones and device to listen to music/videos, anything that helps soothe, e.g. a plush toy in our situation, a verbal or written plan of the journey including pit stops. It won’t work for everyone but it works for us.”

Paul, @garbo100


“We always tell my son when there will be loud sounds or something we know will make him feel uneasy ahead of time so he is prepared.  Usually with loud sounds he will cover his ears and he is fine.”

Samantha Bourque (Facebook)


“Headphones for me, no questions.”

Jeff Snyder (Facebook) 


“Son wears sound defenders to avoid over stimulation of sound and it tends to make him more relaxed”

Brad Nathan (Facebook)


“TSA pre-check! it’s uncomfortable to stand in line in a bright, loud and crowded place for too long, and also having to take off my shoes and go through my luggage (which packing was difficult, and probably disorganized, coz executive functioning). Pre-check lets me avoid a lot of the hassle :)”

Haley Moss, @haleymossart


“My two just need to know where we’re going and how long it’s going to take.  The older they get they’re slowly able to take longer and longer trips.”

Brian, @briangmaddox


“1) packing correct snacks. Especially for on the plane. They don’t have anything he will eat.  2) we pack his pillow. Bedding too if not flying.  3) iPad & earbuds or headphones of course 4) we have to look at all menus and find somewhere to eat that has something he will eat. Or sometimes we have 2 meals. Or room service his in if I am going to eat somewhere, he doesn’t like.  5) we take breaks. It cannot be go go go. We let him decide when he is done. When possible, we do private tours instead of bus tours.  6) camping chair. So he can sit when in a long line”

Jen Oettinger (Facebook)


Music, headphones, therapy puddy, books of his obsession, favorite blanket, velcro, anything he can spin quietly”

Carrie Huffman (Facebook)


GO BACK TO ISSUE 16

Read more articles on “Traveling the Spectrum Way” in Zoom Autism Magazine, Issue 16:

Cover Story

  • From Our Editors: Keep Exploring! Traveling the Spectrum Way
  • Get Globetrotting Advice from Dr. Stephen Shore

Feature Stories

  • I Did It! How I Planned My Independent Travel by Erin Clemens
  • On the Road! Traveling Outside My Children’s Comfort Zones by Katie Dyer
  • Traveling to the Czech Republic for Autism Acceptance by Rachel Barcellona

Our Columnists

  • Cummings and Goings: Many Views for Traveling on the Spectrum by Conner Cummings
  • How I Braved 70 Travel Hours with Sensory Success! by Gretchen McIntire (Leary)
  • Why Our Family Takes the Same Trip Every Year by Megan Amodeo
  • The View from Here: Autism and My Cancer Journey by Douglas Sparling
    (Includes updates from Jacob Fuentes (College), Carly Fulgham (motherhood), and Anita Lesko (Career)

Discover more Zoom Issues:

  • Issue 13: Family
  • Issue 14: Trailblazers
  • Issue 15: Powerful Women
  • Archived issues on the Zoom Home Page
  • More autistic-written articles and author interviews on our blog

What does Zoom have to do with Geek Club Books nonprofit mission?

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Filed Under: Zoom Autism Tagged With: #ActuallyAutistic, #AskingAutistics, travel

About Jodi Murphy

Jodi Murphy is the founder of Geek Club Books, a registered nonprofit committed to creating a world where autistic individuals are fully accepted, valued and have a voice. Her priority is bringing autistic individuals creative and leadership opportunities that are meaningful, empowering and support their advocacy. She works with a creative autistic team to produce pop culture-based autism awareness education that is innovative, engaging, positive and opens hearts and minds to a new way of thinking about autism. Sign up for Geek Club Books mailing list for free apps, resource guides, curriculum, audio stories and more: https://geekclubbooks.com/autism-bundle.

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