August 14, 2015Families traveling with special challenges
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| | Summer's here! Enjoy vacation! |
Dear Family Travelers:
Family travel is challenging in the best of circumstances. When you add a family member's special challenges into the mix, it becomes even more difficult. That's why many families opt to stay home. They shouldn't as there are growing numbers of places that welcome special families with special programs, whether you need special menus, activities or other help.
Many major snow resorts, for example, now have adaptive sports programs  that operate in the summer as well in the winter. Here's what I wrote about the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center after a visit last winter. Cruise lines and theme parks are also working hard to welcome all families. Here are just a few of them:
- The National Ability Center in Park City Utah offers a variety of outdoor programs from special camps, adaptive winter, year-round aquatics, cycling and mountain biking and the chances for families to enjoy the power of recreation together
- The National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, CO also has winter adaptive sports as well as river rafting, sailing, horse riding, camping, kayaking and more.
- Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports works to empower all individuals to enjoy the outdoors-all year long-while encouraging them with EcoAble Adventures to foster their connection with nature while teaching environmental stewardship.
- Autism on the Seas offers cruises for adults and families living with Autism, Down Syndrome and other related Disabilities with their staff to assist families as well as providing specialized respite.
- Give Kids the World in Orlando where kids suffering from life-threatening illness and their families can take a break and enjoy themselves for a week
- Walt Disney World's Disability Access Service Card allows guests with disabilities-as well as an allotted number of people from his or her party-to schedule a return time at a specific attraction that is comparable to the wait time when they first arrive at that attraction. You can also get Disney's Handheld Device with assistive listening, captioning and audio description and a Guide for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities. It is also very easy to arrange special meals at restaurants and those with special food needs are allowed to bring food into the parks. Disneyland also has similar services including the Disability Access Service, Guide for Guests, special devices for those with hearing and site challenges and more.
- Royal Caribbean is a certified Autism Friendly cruise line with all of the youth staff trained in autism awareness training, flexible grouping by ability for children, sensory friendly toys and more.
Wherever you want to go, call in advance and find out what the resort can arrange for your family. You may be surprised at the help you will get!
Find out what local and visiting kids have to say about nine great American travel destinations through our Kids' Guides Series from Globe Pequot Press.
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