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Special Needs Travel
Special Needs Travel

By: Erin Gifford

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Navigating the Niche

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Travel as a family with special needs has more challenges. Whether mitigating sensory overload at a theme park for a child with autism or navigating long cruise ship hallways with a scooter-bound grandparent, every day of a vacation can offer new and different obstacles.

Many families with special needs avoid vacations altogether due to feeling overwhelmed by the minute-to-minute challenges they can present. Fortunately, today’s travel advisors have the tools at their disposal to help clients prepare for and overcome these vacation-related complications.

Here’s what advisors need to know to help them better serve families with special needs.

Travel Agent Certifications

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On a national level, one in 59 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“It pays to familiarize yourself and prepare for the challenges of traveling with autism,” said Nicole Thibault, owner of Magical Storybook Travels in Fairport, New York, and mother of two children with special needs. “If you haven’t yet had a client with autism, expect to have one soon.”

The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) offers web-based training and certifications for agents. Its Certified Autism Travel Professional Program educates agents on 10 core competencies, including what is autism; how to sell to the autism market; overcoming travel barriers associated with flying, cruises, hotels and road trips; and more.

For agents with mobility-challenged clients, Dania Beach, Fla.-based Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea offers a Special Needs Group Certified Accessible Travel Advocate program. This 65-minute training program is spread over three modules that highlight the size of the market, most used mobility equipment (such as scooters and oxygen) and role-play scenarios to educate agents on best practices (such as how to manage travel concerns and apprehensions).

Credit: Getty Images

Credit: SeaWorld Orlando

Credit: SeaWorld Orlando

Pre-Vacation Walk-Throughs

Credit: SeaWorld Orlando

Credit: Getty Images

Knowing what to expect is critical to alleviating sensory overload for children with autism and sensory-processing disorders, and video can go a long way toward helping families. Spectrum Travel Social Story Videos, also owned by Magical Storybook Travels’ Thibault, works with suppliers to create informative online videos that preview a trip experience.

Thibault has collaborated with several theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando. Short autism-friendly videos include hotel tours, character meet-and-greets, quiet rooms and ride experiences from beginning to end.

A sensory tool kit is also a good idea for families with special needs. Thibault suggests including items such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses, a pocket flashlight and even scented lip balm to put under a child’s nostrils to cancel out certain smells.

For families nervous about flying, there are several programs that put on dress rehearsals of the airport experience. The Arc, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, offers “Wings for Autism” events at airports across the country so hesitant travelers can practice walking through security and taking suitcases from a conveyor belt.

In terms of mobility challenges, cruise lines have been quick to embrace this segment of the special needs population and have created accessible staterooms; provided gangways wide enough for wheelchairs and scooters; and lowered sinks and vanities. On Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea’s website, agents can search by cruise line and ship for accessibility features and aids.

Increased Supplier Support

Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea recently piloted a new SNG White Glove Service in select cruise ports with several lines, including Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Travel ambassadors meet clients at embarkation to walk them through equipment, then again at disembarkation to return equipment, such as scooters, wheelchairs and oxygen.

Several cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean International, have also introduced autism-friendly ships for guests with developmental disabilities and sensory concerns. Ship support services can include priority check-in and boarding, special dietary accommodations and staff trained in caring for children with special needs.

As for all-inclusive resorts, Beaches Resorts is leading the way as the first resort in the world to achieve Certified Autism Center status from IBCCES. Their staff has been trained and continues to upgrade their knowledge in the areas of sensory awareness and motor skills, enabling them to best care for young guests with developmental needs. They even offer autism-friendly kids camps.

Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

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