Best Tips for Traveling With Special Needs Kids

All children need to experience the joy of adventure. And certainly, special-needs children are no exception to that rule.

[{"selector":"#anim-604f3f4d-e171-4b7f-a8d6-8b0f62d50b62 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-9.451636946218711%, 3.7769488645286673%) scale(0.78125)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more

It’s empowering for parents like Molly David, whose daughter, Reagan, is 22 and has severe disabilities, to break the stereotype that their children are unable to live full lives.

[{"selector":"#anim-e00270c6-ed1a-4abb-aafc-15cac08f93b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5407d5c2-5946-40bf-a4f0-3f38d1cd8e5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec677f90-69d4-4391-a492-54b3ca0ce407","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.27537%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

David has always taken her daughter on family outings, since she was a baby. “It has allowed Reagan to be fully part of our lives. It never occurred to us to not travel with her,” David says.

[{"selector":"#anim-9ae7dd79-96d1-4bc9-99d1-628d0d21910b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-967a827f-d9c8-4a4d-836c-75b20d8b9355","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9eed1e3-5a98-4e48-978b-ea6ac2828545","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.60278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

David believes that bringing her daughter along on trips positively impacts the people they meet.

[{"selector":"#anim-6101569c-17cc-49ae-b6c3-0e229d0ec976 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99d585d7-b0d5-4243-99c6-af16a825cf39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23116637-8ced-4520-b03a-daa7758902cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.60278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Travel is unquestionably one of the best ways to strengthen family relationships and create lasting memories.

[{"selector":"#anim-80e2e061-b358-475c-abbd-0c472e1c05c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c494d695-babc-4e33-818c-e3ebf1bf58e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7cc81b2-aa84-4c19-a811-814f4f164820","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.27242%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

If you, like David, wish to make travel joyful for a special-needs child, here is some professional advice on how to make your child’s experience enjoyable.

[{"selector":"#anim-538771b8-b1c9-421a-8bfb-7684107ada67 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cac1a82e-e1e6-482c-a76e-875211a735fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb4ccb67-320b-455f-be9a-6b3a4ef94a6f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Start Small

[{"selector":"#anim-3c8e8060-020d-4222-86b8-e442ffeff49a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-630fe60b-974b-47cc-b9a0-05c93c46bf6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae38f9e5-4604-4b40-b404-74e4376ee63d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cff09ce4-2b5d-474e-9723-66af30604aa9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 549.38303%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Barclay advises starting small to assist your kid in becoming mentally ready for the activities ahead. Here are some suggestions she makes:

[{"selector":"#anim-2508a830-2980-44ba-a6ad-830a53bf1768 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.7046571700916267%, -3.3913935056991256%) scale(0.7461928934010152)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e908f5b6-2189-43cb-9c94-a4985a67fcd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1cb96b2a-bf20-4e62-95d5-159680c6d510","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.02797%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Make Preparations

[{"selector":"#anim-23f8e1f5-3b9e-4310-bdb0-b7d56b9a0ef5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d097f6c6-d675-4f9c-ae0f-f841e8d39e66","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e082df88-6a77-4970-b782-e6c6daf0f0bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4eb051eb-1257-4027-a22e-baac464e3834","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 323.44172%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Preparing thoroughly helps to ease your child’s anxiety and prepares them for the trip’s new experiences. According to Barclay, the following tips can help you prepare in advance:

[{"selector":"#anim-80189556-734b-4704-9311-7b34f7d1c4f9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b1d6142-f88b-44a9-a0e3-5e84bfcb6f65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91b628d8-165b-4b47-8dd0-9ec4cf6035dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.61623%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SWIPE UP TO READ THE FULL POST!

[{"selector":"#anim-22b900f5-69e7-4b60-8c79-27efc1cad51b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1492e996-075f-4f8d-a9bf-34bbdb00733c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c0b4c69-ed76-42da-8eed-d7290f9d4a78","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -217.41741%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -61.137775692%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -20.785104396%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -7.805285019%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -3.3917115959999995%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}] Learn more