Family Vacations with Complex Needs
When traveling, you may not think about all the ways that the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) has impacted you since it was passed on July 26, 1990. There are often basic accommodations like ramps and handlebars in the bathrooms at hotels and rest stops, yet accommodations can be much more than that. To get ready for your trip, it is important to prepare by thinking about what accommodations function best for your family and what you need. Think about what you use on a daily basis to keep your family functioning smoothly and what would make your trip successful.
Preparation
While some vacation spots claim to be inclusive, that may not be your family's experience. There is no legal definition of inclusive for hotels, resorts, or theme parks. Even those places that are listed as ADA compliant may not be, or accommodations that are listed may not be known by all staff onsite. The best plan is to reach out ahead of time to the places you intend to visit and/or stay, and to specifically ask what accommodations they can provide and how to request them during your visit.
Some examples include:
Play Equipment: Some Resorts may have ADA compliant play equipment that is well maintained, but be sure to check before you plan on using this during your stay.
Advertised Day Clubs and babysitting may not be available for children that have specific or medically intensive needs. Check on the hotel and resort policies that are pertinent to your needs, such as diapering, before utilizing them as a care provider during your stay.
Water Parks and Roller Coasters may not have adaptations that support all types of kids unless specifically addressed on their website.
Sensory Areas: These are typically sensory rooms or areas available for families to take a break during long and action packed days. These sensory breaks areas are great for recharging those that don’t have needs as well.
Specialty Staff: This can be a hostess, guide, specialty babysitter, or respite worker. These individuals can make a trip easier on the family by knowing all the information and intricacies of a location.
Travel
July is the busiest month for family vacations. The most traveled day of the year usually falls on a Friday in July. This year it may be Thursday, July 3rd because of the long weekend associated with July 4th. How you travel will depend on your family and their constellation of needs.
Flights
When traveling by plane, you can get a sunflower lanyard as an international symbol that you have a hidden disability. This is recognized at most airports and by most airlines at this time. https://www.phl.org/newsroom/Hidden-Disabilities
You can also call TSA to do a preparation planning call with TSA Cares to make the checkpoint and security process smoother. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares
You can determine if you want to bring a Car Seat or FAA approved harness for your child on the flight (https://www.amsafe.com/kidsflysafe-com/), if this makes sense for your family and your destination.
Car
Make sure to have all materials that are needed for entertainment charged up and ready. Don’t push for time and allow yourself extra breaks and movement activities during the trip, such as a rest stop every few hours to stretch your legs and “get the sillies out”.
For the Future
Traveling as a family is an important part of spending time together and growing as a unit. Even if one or more members of your family has special needs, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take a vacation or enjoy this American tradition! Planning and preparation are a huge component in the success of these trips, but it is possible to enjoy yourself and make great memories together.
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