Comments on: Travel Tips for the Special Needs Family

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 02:13:25 +0000

Thanks for the kind and encouraging posts all… I consider it an honor and a blessing to raise my sons, one of whom has mild challenges (sensory integration)….I don’t wish for my special needs son to struggle, but I know with the resources, love, and support he receives, he is a happy, contributing member to society. That is all that I ever want for my children….to feel loved, to be happy and to make a difference in this world. And that has already manifested. I don’t feel sorry for myself or my son. We all have challenges in different ways…it’s how we deal with them and channel our strengths that makes the difference :)

By: Psych

Psych — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 07:53:35 +0000

Praise should go to parents who look for the personal interests of their children who has special needs. This world gives us a lot to go through just to live, but thankful we are to have the ability to love and to shower them unconditionally to those who need it most.

By: Brad lewis

Brad lewis — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:03:18 +0000

All of you parents out there who have to live with special needs children are such an inspiration, as are your children. Most of you handle what has been given to you beautifully and without complaint, which is something that I don’t see even parents of the most “perfect” children possessing the ability to do. I think that we could all learn a little something about how to love our children and love them a little better from the example that so many of you are setting through your work, your words, and your deeds. Thanks.

By: james d

james d — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:06:05 +0000

Since we had our daughter, who has Downs, taking trips, long or short, has taken on a whole new meaning! At first my wife and I were scared to try to do these trips because we did not know how Shelby would react. But she is so good, so flexible, and I know that we are very fortunate in that respect. It does help to have an extra set of hands so that you are not having to manage it all by yourself, but we have been very lucky as we have never had to do anything too extraordinary to make a vacation a reality. Somehow evevrything just always seems to work out.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:30:18 +0000

Yes, traveling with children is a Herculean feat for most all parents, whether or not your child(ren) have special needs…however, it is well worth the effort. My family’s best memories are those involving travel, camping, adventure, nature, exploring….truly wonderful fun and do-able! A spirit of adventure, patience, and an extra set of arms always helps :))

By: Virginia

Virginia — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 21:49:56 +0000

Personally, I know this is going to sound shallow and I don’t mean for it to be, but if I had to follow thru with this many tips before traveling then I don’t think that I would manage to be able to ever leave the house!

My goodness, traveling can be such a headache on a good day, but to add to this all of the extras that these families have to account for must be exhausting!

This is a situation where it truly does take a village.

By: xavier

xavier — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:34:28 +0000

I hate it when I see those families who are not as prepared as the writer here. You can see the misery in the children and the parents and it makes me feel bad for the whole group of them.

By: Frances

Frances — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:14:10 +0000

We have an autistic daughter, and I make it a point to pretty much never go anywhere alone with just the two of us. She has been known to run away, and if it’s just me than I am afriad that she will get away from me and I would not be able to stop her.

I have a wonderful husband and support system of friends who I always have around no matter how far I have to travel. And we always make it a point to divide any trip into small stretches so that nothing feels too overwhelming to her.

All of this can be stressful at first, but as you come to know your child more and more it is easier to see the things that work best for her and the things that you may need to avoid. It is all a learning process.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:28:53 +0000

Navigating the travel plans for a family without any special needs is difficult. I honestly don’t know how I would do it if I had that added pressure of planning for any and all situations that could come up with a special needs familiy member too. I guess I have never really given it too much though until reading this piece today, but it opened my eyes to the struggles that these families face and manage on a daily basis that the rest of us really know little about. It makes me thankful for the family I have, but amazed at how much other families manage to do and succeed at even in the face of such hard work.