What's the plan, man? Trip preparation Autism style.

It's been a very busy six weeks, so I haven't had an opportunity to blog. We recently went on a trip back to California and had an awesome time. I thought this would be a good time to talk about how we plan for any trip. Even though my kids are travel veterans, and we started flying with them when they were a year old, we still need to plan, plan, plan. Like most kids with Autism, they want to know the who, what, and where. When the kids were younger, I used to create social stories that explained the daily itinerary. I always included pictures of the airport, hotel, and places we would see. Knowing what to expect really helps them.

Now that the kids are older, we don't need the social story on paper, but you better believe they need to know the details. It keeps anxiety down if they know the plan. As soon as airfare is booked, we discuss what we will be doing. And we continue to discuss right through the very end of the trip. Speaking of airfare, we always try to book non-stop flights. I think in all our flights, we have only had to switch planes one time, and that was pretty stressful. So, we avoid direct flights and change of plane flights at all costs.

So we have a plan. Now we need to get on the plane. We usually do pre-boarding. This allows the kids to take their time, without feeling rushed or stressed by having a long line of passengers trying to push their way on. But before we board, let's talk about food.

We always come prepared with emergency snacks. Because traveling Autism style means being prepared.  This is the key to traveling. We need to have our snacks in order. Sure they serve snacks on the plane. But what if you are on a five hour flight and they don't serve a meal (been there, done that.)? What if there is a flight delay? What if the food options in the terminal are not something that appeals to your child? These have all happened to us, but because we pack snacks, there is always something for the kids to nibble on. This is why it's so important to prepare for these things. We always pack more snacks than we will need, just in case. And those surplus snacks have been a Godsend more than once!

The kids are more independent now, so packing their snacks in their Bento boxes works out great. We have plastic Bento boxes that are perfect for travel. They don't take up too much space in their backpacks, and are pretty light weight. I pack an assortment of crackers, pretzels, and cookies. Sometimes we pack fruit, but to be honest, they tend not to travel well when thrown in a backpack. So dried snacks are easier.

Bento Boxes are perfect for flights!

Along with their Bento boxes, I always pack plastic cups with lids and straws. When the flight attendants pass around drinks, I just pour their drink right in to their cups. No spilled drinks for my kids!

We have a system when crossing through TSA checkpoints. I assist Noah and Nik, while Alex puts the bags on the conveyor belt for screening. I cross the metal detector first, followed by Noah, Nik, and Alex in the rear. Having an adult in front helps to make sure that a child doesn't wander off once they pass through the metal detector. And if one of the kids is selected for a pat down, I can explain to the TSA agent that they have Autism and may need simple commands. The last couple of trips, Alex and Nik have grabbed the bags after they are screened. Nik is a great helper! And this was the first trip that Noah handled his own bag. Way to go, Noah! Colorful bags make them easy to spot if you have to check them.

This trip, we carried our bags on the plane. I am loving our E Bags 21" Mini Mother Lode.
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-mini-21-wheeled-duffel/125538?productid=1325216
 They meet International flight carry on size, but can expand, and has lots of organizational compartments.

The top compartment has pockets to store shoes or other items. And the bottom compartment has a removable shelf. Man, am I loving these bags! 

We always have Nik on a window seat, Noah in the middle, and me in the aisle, and Alex right across from me. Each kid has a backpack containing their Bento Box, cup and lid, laptop or Ipad, and headphones. Now that the kids are older, they can reach under the seat and grab what they want all on their own. 

And that's how you fly Autism style.