Recently I was sent a link to an article and then found the same article posted to Pinterest by a friend and co-worker of mine. The article has 70+ tips and tricks for taking road trips with children with special needs. Some of the topics covered: car safety, food, medical equipment, preparing your child, seating arrangements, frequent stops, paperwork and protection, knowing your limits, over and under stimulation. Here is the opening paragraph from the article:
It’s road trip season. If you have a child with special needs, as I do, then you know it will take extra planning — and you have no idea if your best-laid plans will be successful until you actually go.
Travel always involves some risks for a child with medical needs or sensory issues. But there are also significant benefits for traveling by car, such as:
- Being able to bring medical equipment or comforting items from home
- Freedom to make as many stops as necessary and to customize your itinerary
- Being up close and personal with your family for long periods of bonding
- Changing your daily routine and exploring new environments to learn life skills
- Developing emotional regulation
- Stimulating speech and language development with constantly changing scenery
My husband and I have spent years finding ways to balance the risks and benefits of a road trip, and we’ve asked for input from other families in our situation. These are the considerations that guide every road trip for our family.
This same website also has a great article for airports and special needs travel.
