What Advisors Should Know About Booking Travel for Children With Autism

Traveling with a child on the autism spectrum has always been a challenge—and got even trickier with COVID. But, these families—like most—are itching to travel.

“We did a survey in 2020 asking families and individuals what they were looking for once areas opened back up, and the majority of folks surveyed were planning on traveling when they could and wanted assurances about cleanliness and other protections, but overall they were still eager to make memories and get outside,” says  

Meredith Tekin, president of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), is an industry leader in training and certification in autism and cognitive disorders. 

IBCCES trains and certifies travel advisors through its Certified Autism Travel Professional (CAPT) program. Following training, advisors who pass an Autism Travel Competency Exam, are listed in the International Registry as a Certified Autism Travel Professional and receive a certificate to display.

“We definitely saw a slowdown during Covid, especially last year when many areas were completely shut down,” says Tekin, “but we have seen a steady rise in interest from organizations that are open and want to welcome guests and ensure their experiences onsite are as positive as possible, so there is still definitely a focus on accessibility within the industry.”

And while strides have been made in accommodating travel with a child (or adult) on the spectrum, Tekin says it remains imperative for travel advisors and the hospitality industry to continue to break down the myths and stereotypes that are still prevalent. One in six people have a sensory need or sensitivity, says Tekin, and one in 54 children are currently being diagnosed with autism, with many adults being diagnosed later in life or never getting a diagnosis but having those neurodivergent qualities.

“This means, if you’re not focusing on a more robust accessibility plan, you’re falling behind and not meeting your visitors’ needs,” she says.

“Our programs focus on the guest experience onsite as well as provides training and supports for the staff that is welcoming those guests,” says Tekin. The certification process requires 80 percent or more of guest-facing staff to complete a training program, according to Tekin, and there are varying types of training programs, depending on the setting, as well as other supports such as an onsite review, sensory guides, and recommendations on how to be more flexible for visitors who have sensory or other needs. Certification must be renewed every two years with updated training.

Autism Travel trains and certifies travel advisors through its Certified Autism Travel Professional (CAPT) program. Following training, advisors who pass an Autism Travel Competency Exam, are listed in the International Registry as a Certified Autism Professional and receive a certificate to display.

An updated list of certified locations and advisors is available on AutismTravel.com

Many airlines are also on board to help families. Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy and research organization, offers its Autism Friendly Destination program, an employee training initiative co-developed by people with autism, experts, and clinicians providing onsite resources and support for hospitality industry businesses and destinations.

They’ve prepared a social program with JetBlue called “Taking an airplane: A guide for people with autism.” Arianna Esposito, Director of Services and Support at Autism Speaks, says the program is recommended for families to use during their trip planning stages to “rehearse or discuss” upcoming plans before they take off.

“2022 looks bright as far as more people being able to visit more places,” says IBCCES’ Tekin, “and as we continue to focus on providing the knowledge and tools for destinations and attractions to better welcome these visitors, we know that demand and also the positive effects will continue to increase.”

Alan Day, co-founder and CEO of Autism Double-Checked a company that also trains the hospitality industry how to best accommodate travelers with autistic family members, concurs. “I think that ‘cabin fever’/building of pent-up demand has affected the autism community just as profoundly as everybody else,” says Day.