In general, we have always scheduled community outings with Kayla’s needs in mind. Over the years, we have found places in the community that are ADA accessible and/or places that recognize and accept that she is different from your normal child. As she has gotten older, she has become more flexible when it comes to visiting new places, which has made things a little easier. However, Kayla’s level of fatigue and coping skills may vary from day to day, so we always adjust our plans accordingly and will only go to a place that meets her needs.
That being said, booking a family vacation is a whole different ballpark. Vacation is supposed to be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable. But honestly, traveling with a child who has special needs can make vacation stressful, unpredictable, and exhausting. There is a lot of extra planning involved. From the stress of the airport and airplane to the haggle of the hotel, from the search for appropriate restaurants to the planning of acceptable vacation activities, traveling requires a lot of research-and that’s without even considering all the stuff we have to pack!
In our family, vacation always means heading South. We have visited four different areas in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. We look for resorts that have pools, a lot of casual and kid friendly restaurants, easy access to the beach, scheduled family activities, and, most importantly, a good kids’ program that can accommodate Kayla. And this list only covers Kayla’s needs! We also have separate family needs: golf courses, teen activities, and water sports.
We were fortunate to find a great vacation spot-so great we are headed back today! We chose to go back to the Omni Resort at Amelia Island because the event calendar is followed exactly. Consistency is very important for Kayla. (Last year, at a different resort, a lot of events listed on their calendar never took place, creating a level of unpredictability which led to meltdowns.) The staff at the kids’ club is amazing, friendly, and accommodating in all aspects, from helping her with her leg braces to using her adaptive stroller. They offer an adaptive beach stroller if needed, and the restaurants are all kid-friendly. Kayla is very excited to go back and see the resort’s mascot, have ice-cream, and go to the fun dance party! Meanwhile, the rest of us are looking forward to a little relaxation, safe in the knowledge that Kayla will be well taken care of while having the time of her life at the kids’ club!
I have done quite a bit of research on traveling with a child who has special needs to gather information. I was fortunate to come across a wonderful website that offers tremendous information and guidance about traveling with a child who has special needs. This site also made me realize that although we go through a lot to plan our family vacation, we are fortunate Kayla is mobile, does not have significant medical complications, and can communicate with us. Check out this incredible website, http://www.specialneedstravelmom.com to gather information on travel tips, destinations and solutions!