More And More Destinations Cater To The Autistic

One of my greatest fantasies is to take the kind of family vacation my friends take with their children – one involving a beautiful, tropical resort with a kids' club, where the kids have a blast and the parents have some time alone, and then everyone gets together for a fabulous meal and maybe some wholesome activities like bingo or square dancing, and everyone has a great time.

But, given that the oldest of my five children has autism, and is unlikely to ever be able to handle a typical kids' club, I've assumed for a while that dream will never come true.

I should never have underestimated the travel and tourism industry, however.  Not when Americans with disabilities spend $13.6 billion every year on travel.

Resorts designed for kids with special needs are sprouting up all over the place.  Alumni Cruises offers "Autism on the Seas" trips, designed to make cruising with autistic children easier and enjoyable for everyone.  Situations that might be stressful to autistic kids – such as lines, muster call and meals in formal dining rooms – are either done away with entirely or re-shaped to make them more tolerable.  Autistic kids are even welcome in the kids' club, where staff members are specially trained.

Cruising not your thing?  Adam's Camp runs summer programs for kids with disabilities in Colorado and Nantucket, and hopes to add more sites to handle increased demand.  Smuggler's Notch Resort in Vermont also offers adaptive programs for people with special needs.  Many ski resorts have lessons for autistic kids, and even Disney World has made themselves attractive to families with autistic children by offering them passes so they won't have to wait in line for rides and attractions.

So, that fantasy of mine?  It might come true after all.