Written By: Christine Romeo (Abbey's Mom on the Netflix show, Love on the Spectrum)
 

You’re coming to Anaheim! Glad you made the decision to travel with autism! It is possible. 

Visit Anaheim, the official destination marketing organization for Anaheim became a Certified Autism Center™ in 2023. This means staff have had specialized training to understand and assist autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors when visiting the Anaheim area. Having that in place before you arrive makes a big difference for your family! 
 

Witnessing this transformation since Abbey was a child is inspiring. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way to help ease the transition and accommodate your child’s needs when on the road. When visiting the Southern California area, it’s great to know that places like Great Wolf Lodge near Disneyland® Resort, plus LEGOLAND and Sesame Place in the San Diego area, are all certified with special training to understand and accommodate our kids.  

Here are a few things to think about: 

Activities vs. Down Time: This is important, as you know a full day can wipe you out. Plan breaks! Even if you go to a quiet area at your destination. You can check your destination's website, as many have designated areas just for this. This is a great way to help with regulations, overstimulation, and fatigue. In fact, Visit Anaheim has a dedicated “Accessibility” section on its website that lists accommodations for many area hotels and attractions.

Routine: Have a schedule prepared in advance and write it out so that your child can see and feel ready. We all know routine is essential for success so whatever you have planned - structure it and let your child know the plan to the best of their ability.  Include downtime in the schedule. You don’t have to see everything.  

Transitions: Between various activities, review the plan each day so your child knows. Use visual aids if needed. Each day, allow your child to review the schedule and then give them time within the activities to know when it will be over. And, if they are having a great time - it’s okay to give a little extra time. If something is not preferred, it’s okay to end earlier than expected. Warnings for change are great, and choices help too. 

Accommodations: Something to think about when deciding where to stay is what your child really needs in terms of space and comfort. Abbey is a mover and shaker (especially these days, lol), but really, she has sensory needs and does a lot of pacing.  We have stayed in a vacation rental to provide more space for her, but this also depends on the time of year. If it’s too hot out, she must be indoors, so a hotel would work best.  Sometimes, getting two rooms that adjoin helps because then she has more room to pace. But also, if she is at a waterpark or amusement park, she gets lots of sensory input on those rides, so the need for pacing diminishes. Think about what your child’s preferences and patterns are, and go from there. 

At the end of the day, all the planning is specific to your child. If they can express their specific “must-do” attraction, that is a priority. I also believe in rewards for trying things, being patient, expressing their needs and even trying new foods. Be aware of variables in advance. For example, Abbey cannot tolerate heat. She can now express that directly, but there was a time when I knew more about heat exposure and how it affected her. If the temps were high (even at a water park) we would change the plan if needed. Keep sensory triggers in mind when planning and have a plan B attraction if needed.   

More next time!