Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse

by Dawn M. Barclay

Overview

The award-winning travel bible for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and/or mood and distraction disorders.

“An essential read, not only for parents of autistic or otherwise neurodivergent children but for all families.”—Library Journal, Starred Review

Traveling with children is always challenging, but for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and/or mood and attention and distraction disorders it can be especially intimidating. In Traveling Different, Dawn M. Barclay presents travel strategies and anecdotes from Certified Autism Travel Professionals™, parents of special needs children, associations and advocates, and mental health professionals, broken down by mode of transportation and type of venue. The heart of the book outlines suggested itineraries for spectrum families as well as venues that cater to the unique special interests that are characteristic of individuals with autism.

Culminating with a guide of travel agents who specialize in special needs travel and lists of organizations that advocate for special needs families, Traveling Different is the essential resource to make the cultural, educational, and bonding benefits of vacations available to all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538192719
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.48(h) x 0.74(d)

About the Author

Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. She started as a travel agent before branching out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and Insider Travel Report. She resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Part I: INTRODUCTION

Chapter One: Every Family Deserves to Travel

Chapter Two: Traveling with Any Child Can Be Challenging

Chapter Three: The Growing Focus on Traveling with Children on and off the Spectrum

Chapter Four: Modifications Can Help Every Family’s Travel

Part II: SETTING THE STAGE

Chapter Five: Starting Small

Chapter Six: Pre-Trip Preparation

Chapter Seven: Foreign vs. Domestic?

PART III: MODES OF TRAVEL

Chapter Eight: Navigating Airline Travel

Chapter Nine: Negotiating Car and Bus Travel

Chapter Ten: Chugging Along: Train Travel

Chapter Eleven: Smooth Sailing: Cruise Travel

PART IV: ONCE YOU’VE ARRIVED

Chapter Twelve: Staying the Course: Various Accommodations Options

Chapter Thirteen: The Great Outdoors—Camping, RVs, and More

Chapter Fourteen: To See or Not to See—Tours and Venues

Chapter Fifteen: Taking the Bite Out of Restaurant Dining

Chapter Sixteen: Other Suggested Modifications

PART V: DESTINATIONS AND SPECIAL INTEREST TRAVEL

Chapter Seventeen: Suggested Itineraries

PART VI: RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE

Chapter Eighteen: Resources

Bibliography

Notes

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Whether you’re planning a day trip or an extended vacation, Dawn M. Barclay’s Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse will bring your family together. Filled with valuable travel tips and tools, this comprehensive guide will ease your travel worries with its thoughtful guidance surrounding numerous modes of transportation, special accommodation options, as well as suggested modifications, itineraries, and resources. So now go pack your bags – it’s time to make life-long memories together!

Amy KD Tobik

Dawn Barclay's Traveling Different is an invaluable guide for parents and families of children with special needs and provides a concise blueprint for enjoyable, stress-free travel. A terrific resource that any family can benefit from.

Debra Ginsberg

It’s through [an] enormously generous, empathetic prose that Barclay is able to carefully shoehorn in facts, statistics, and left-brain methodology in a manner that feels narratively seamless. She also provides in-depth, personalized examples and scenarios, furthering the reader’s sense of both empowerment and empathy—especially if he or she is themselves a parent potentially within this complex predicament. This is reflected in passages highlighting things one wouldn’t normally expect to find in a book of this nature, yet simultaneously affirming Barclay genuinely knowing her stuff, and wanting the reader to come away from the book as informationally empowered as possible.

Colin Jordan Blog (Medium)

Dawn Barclay has filled a void with her book Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD), affects 1 in 5 children as per a recent survey. With 87% of parents with a child on the spectrum saying that they do not take a vacation as a family and 93% will travel if there were more autism-friendly places to go, it was high time someone wrote a book like this. Born out of a series of interviews of those in the know combined with Dawn’s cutting-edge research on how to make travel as seamless as possible, this book holds each and every parent´s hand through pre planning to executing the trip till you get back home after a memorable journey...memorable, mind you, not for the disasters but for all the fun and amazing memories. Having dealt with all aspects of travel in minute detail, she summarizes each chapter into Action Steps. This is a must-read for all parents irrespective of whether your child has a disability or not.

Jani Nayar

Traveling Different is now mandatory when packing the diaper bags and backpacks of kids with special needs. Industry veteran Dawn Barclay has done the research for you and she thoroughly details the ins, outs, and best practices of successfully navigating air travel, rail travel, cruising, hotels, and especially restaurants, museums, and venues. Trust her—this book covers it all.

William J. McGee

In Traveling Different, Dawn Barclay provides essential strategies and tools to improve quality of life for families with autistic and neurodivergent loved ones that will enhance their ability to travel with confidence and joy. Drawing from her years of expertise in travel and as a parent, she opens up a world of opportunities for families who are understandably hesitant to explore all that travel offers. A truly unique book that will make a huge difference in personal growth for all family members.

Barry M. Prizant

Whether you’re planning a day trip or an extended vacation, Dawn M. Barclay’s Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse will bring your family together. Filled with valuable travel tips and tools, this comprehensive guide will ease your travel worries with its thoughtful guidance surrounding numerous modes of transportation, special accommodation options, as well as suggested modifications, itineraries, and resources. So now go pack your bags – it’s time to make life-long memories together!  

Amy KD Tobrik

★ 08/01/2022

Barclay, a longtime travel agent and editor at Travel Agent magazine, found her life changed when she became a mother. She searched for a book to help her navigate traveling with two young neurodivergent children but came up empty-handed. Years later, she has created the book she once needed, with guidance from Certified Autism Travel Professionals, mental health experts, and parents of children on the spectrum. Starting from the premise that every family should be able to travel, Barclay's book includes tips on packing a "go-to" bag, creating a relaxed vacation schedule that works for the entire family, preparing for a trip with bibliotherapy (including lists of books to read with children), and navigating TSA precheck and international travel. It also lists sites that are certified as accommodating for autistic people. Much of the book's guidance will also be useful for families with neurotypical children as well. VERDICT An essential read, not only for parents of autistic or otherwise neurodivergent children but for all families.

Library Journal