I read with interest this article in the NYTimes Sunday, September 14 about travel with autistic children.
Bypassing the Roadblocks of Autism
Is it encouraging that the travel industry is creating specific packages for autism families? Or is this another way that special needs families get shunted away from others so they can be ignored? Are these vacations the solution for families in difficult situations? Or is this a gulag that keeps typical families sheltered form the realities of the differently-abled?
I think it is important to remember that vacations are supposed to be relaxing for everyone in the family and if that means going to a resort or cruise or campground that caters to families with special needs, well parents and children need to know that they can go somewhere for vacation where they feel totally at ease. There are plenty of opportunities in this world to feel different, I’m thrilled that this is a chance for autism families to feel typical.
The article also includes a video of an autism family talking about travel and their upper middle class privilege jumps off the screen. It’s great to see families marshalling resources to make a life for their autistic children, wouldn’t it be nice to see more diversity in economic class? Maybe that is asking too much of the NYTimes Travel section.
Tom Julius
RSS Growing Teachers