Autism Speaks provides some helpful tips for families traveling with a child with autism and/or other disabilities. The forethought and planning is worth the work, so that all involved can enjoy and feel like they had a vacation!

Traveling Tips for Individuals with Autism and Their Families

School is out, the sun is shining, and it is the time of year when we all begin to think about planning some down time - maybe even a vacation!

Whether it is a family camping trip, or a visit to a foreign country, these vacations involve travel in some form or another. Many individuals with autism and their families do not travel because they are concerned with the changes and disruptions in routines that traveling today requires.
This month, Community Connections offers you tips on how to make traveling with an individual with autism easier. Learn how to prepare for travel with advice from experienced moms and valuable web resources to get your summer vacation off to a smooth start.
We hope your family decides to go and have some fun!
Articles and Books

Flying to See Janet: A Fun Guide to the Airport Experience 
Traveling by plane can be a stressful experience for anxious children (and their parents!) Prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience in advance with this fun and gently humorous picture book.

Traveling Tips for Families with an Autistic Child
by Chantal Sicile-Kira

3 Things to Know Before you Close your Suitcase: Preparing for Traveling
with a Child with Autism
by Earl J. Campazzi, Jr, MD, MPH

Planet Express Travelers Travel Guides for Kids
by Laura Schaefer

Travel Checklist
by Earl J. Campazzi, Jr, MD, MPH

Vacationing with Autism: Six Tips for Traveling with an Autistic Child
by Amy Lennard Goehner

Ten Strategies for Traveling with a Child with Autism
How do we Survive the Trip?
by Ann Schlosser

Web Resources

Family Travel and Autism:
Time for Everyone to Have Fun!
www.autismtravel.org 

Medical Travel, Inc.
The Disability Travel Experts
www.medicaltravel.org

Travelers with Children with Disabilities and Medical Conditions - What Parents and Guardians Should Do
Transportation Security Administration ( See Attached Video )

Amtrak: Services for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
Information for individuals with disabilities looking to ride the train.

Autism on the Seas 
Group and individual vacation options
for adults and families dealing with autism
and related disabilities.

Autism Adventure Travel
Travel Services for special needs families. Our Specialists will plan your vacation itinerary or can book you on one of our great vacations all with your special needs in mind.

NEW! Air Travel Regulations
Adult passengers, age 18 and over, are required show a US federal or state-issued ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date, as well as a tamper-resistant feature in order to be allowed through the checkpoint an on to flights. ID's can include a driver's license, state ID card, or US passport.

Click here for information on how to get a US Passport, or go to your state DMV website to access information on how to obtain a state ID card.

Visit our Resource Guide. We welcome new submissions as we continue to build the Resource Guide.

We would like to hear from you! Share your story about your travels with individuals on the autism spectrum. E-mail us at familyservices@autismspeaks.org. Photos are welcome!

http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/community-connections/traveling-tips-individuals-autism-and-their-families

The Family Life Cycle and Significant Intellectual Disability

By Ann Turnbull and Rud Turnbull

Have you ever commented that a person is “going through a stage?” Probably. But have you thought about “stages” as they relate to families, especially those who have adolescents and young adults with significant intellectual disabilities?
There are between 6 and 24 stages representing the family’s passage through time, but let’s keep it simple and consider only these stages:

• Marriage and the new couple
• Families with young children
• Families with adolescents
• Families with children launching to adulthood
• Families in post-parental years
• Families with parents who are elderly
• Death of parents

These stages occur in most families, can be anticipated at certain defined times in the family life cycle, and are generally symbolized by age-appropriate “punctuation marks” such as confirmation, bar and bat mitzvah, a driver’s license, graduation from high school, and marriage. That’s the norm. But what happens to your family life cycle when your child has a significant intellectual disability?

Read More Here:
http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/192/over4.html

At last, a guide that speaks to parents about how to work on marital issues while juggling the demands of raising a child with a developmental disability, serious medical condition, or mental illness. In writing this practical, empathetic guide, the authors draw on their combined professional experience in marital counseling and parent training, as well as on the experience and advice of hundreds of parents of children with special needs.

Laura E. Marshak, Ph.D & Fran P. Prezant, M.Ed., CCC-SLP

How to keep your relationship strong while parenting a special needs child | Today's Parent

How to keep your relationship strong while parenting a special needs child | Today's Parent

I can't encourage couple's enough, to work on their relationship and to value the well-being of their relationship as much as they value the well-being of their child.  A must read for you and your partner!

Siblings of Kids with Special Needs

What's the upside of growing up with a sibling with special health or developmental needs?

Siblings of children with special needs have special needs themselves.  Their sister or brother with special needs will get a bigger share of attention.  While having a special needs sib presents challenges, it also comes with opportunities. Kids who grow up with a sibling with special health or developmental needs may have more of a chance to develop many good qualities, including:

• patience
• kindness and supportiveness
• acceptance of differences
• compassion and helpfulness
• empathy for others and insight into coping with challenges
• dependability and loyalty that may come from standing up for their brother or sister.

What kinds of difficult feelings might a sibling have?

http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/specneed.htm#tips

Where to Find Free Outdoor Movies in NJ this Summer - NJ Family - June 2013

Where to Find Free Outdoor Movies in NJ this Summer - NJ Family - June 2013

Parents of Children with Special Needs are AMAZING! | Collaborative Learning Services

Parents of Children with Special Needs are AMAZING! | Collaborative Learning Services