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Advice for first flight with 10yr old Aspergers

NAS73417

My son has Aspergers and we are planning our first foreign family holiday this year. His teacher mentioned how effective picture stories can be for children with ASD when facing new challenges/scenarios, and she suggested we might want one for my son to help him cope with the airport, having never been to one before. She suggested a software package that you use to create the picture story, but I wondered whether anyone else had any similar resources that they could share/point to, that might help, rather than me reinvent the wheel. Also, any strategies other parents have found have helped and also for coping with a hot environment. My son struggles in the heat and immediately feelsoverwhelmed by it. We'll be in an air-con apartment with a pool, but I'm sure there will be plenty of occasions when he will find it tough. We could just not go, but feel that's unfair on his siblings who are desperate to go and feel that they miss out on lots because of their brother. Thanks in advance for any advice anyone has.

  • I realise this post is two years old, but in case it might help someone in a similar situation in future ...

    I wonder if it would help him to "research" airports and aircraft. There are a lot of books on Amazon, from simple pop-up picture books to more technical books.  Have a look at "i-SPY At the Airport: Spy it! Score it!  "(Collins Michelin i-SPY Guides) £3.99 on Amazon (other booksellers are available.)  He can collect points and you can send off for a certificate when he reaches a thousand points. Depending on distance, maybe visit the airport in advance and go to the public viewing area and watch the planes.

     

  • Wishing you and your family many more happy adventures!

  • Hello,

    If you goggle 'Airport Awareness' there is a free PDF that you can download.. Its like a social story book that you can fill in. I used it for my son many years ago and it was fab. I've just checked and it's still available online.

    Depending where you travel from there are autism wristbands (not for everyone I know) which you can get which takes some of the pressure off as staff are all aware you may need some support.

    Other things to think about:

    • Ear defenders/airpods for the airport/plane as it can be quite loud
    • Choose seats near the front of the plane so as not to feel hemmed in.
    • Try board as late as you can so there's no waiting time on the plane 
    • Sunglasses (they somehow make you feel cooler) 
    • I took my son some food as he has a limited diet 
    • Try not to jam pack your days.. Initially we had one day out, one day by the pool
    • Try show him the area and look at things he may be interested in seeing
    • Dont expect too much from him.. Go at his pace so as not to overwhelm him 

    It is really nerve wracking the first time but with a little prep and patience he will be fine. 

    Have a great holiday :) 

  • in reply to Martin

    Thanks for the suggestions - my son has headphones at school to help with noise in the classroom/assembly so that's a great suggestion to take some for the trip. I'm a bit nervous about evening meals out as he has a set bedtime routine that is going to get interferred with, but I think if we try adjusting it before we go, we will stand a better chance of him accepting it. His current evening routine involves reading Percy Jackson books, which are all about Greek Mythology, so hopefully he will be happy to be in Greece rather than just read about it!

  • Noise cancelling headphones can be useful on the plane for the engine noise. We used to take a mini sketch pad - the sort that is magnetic and wipes clean - everywhere, for games like hangman, useful at restaurants. My daughter had and still has trouble with the heat she spent most of her holidays in the pool or in airconditioned rooms. We got into a habit of early morning activity, before it got too hot, then lunch and a siesta. We would avoid going out much around noon, and then later afternoon in the pool. Evening meals out were not a problem as the heat would be less.