Traveling While Autistic

Traveling while autistic is a unique challenge. Unfamiliar situations can be difficult for someone who needs routines and predictability.

That being said, for me, the benefits of travel outweigh the drawbacks. Even if I am uncomfortable, I still want to explore and expose myself to new cultures. I love walking around new cities, learning history, and meeting people around the world.

Taking a solo walk around the Grand-Place in Brussels

How do I accommodate myself whilst on the road? Here are some ideas.

• Sensory aids. I shamelessly wear sunglasses indoors. I also always have my Loop earplugs, and now my Bose noise-cancelling headphones as well. Sometimes I need to take sensory inputs down a notch to minimize my feelings of overwhelm.
• Written plans. It helps to outline broad strokes of the trip in advance and have a physical cheat sheet I can refer to. I jot down major reservations, plane times, hotel addresses, etc. and this stays in my bag just in case.
• Planned rest. I can't plan a day where I am out and about for 12 straight hours. Knowing my limits, I find ways to schedule a quiet hour no matter what. I need to retreat to my hotel room and sit in the cold, dark, quiet with my eyes closed to recharge. If I am on a day trip, even just planning to nap on a bus helps. On group trips, I try to eat one or two meals alone each day.
• Paid upgrades. Sometimes being autistic can be expensive. I pay for priority boarding and chosen seat assignments on flights. And occasionally I pay for upgrades for a smaller, less chaotic travel experience. For example, choosing to book a private booth at the Renaissance Faire's jousting matches so I'm not thrown into the crowd.
• Pack safe foods. I bring a few packets of snacks or sweets that I know will tide me over if I am struggling to find an appropriate meal. Fortunately, I am an adventurous eater who enjoys a variety of textures, but I know that is not the norm for many autistic folks. But even with my bold palate, I still fixate on where my next meal is coming from.

I developed these strategies over years of travel as well as utilizing autism-specific resources.

I was fortunate to be part of a 12-week support group for late-diagnosed autistic adults hosted by a counseling office in Atlanta. This was extremely validating and made me confident that accommodations are nothing to be embarrassed by. The world is disabling and I have to self-advocate to be able to experience travel like allistic (non-autistic) folks.

Epic views in Ragusa, Sicily

So yes, travel is possible for autistic individuals! We just may need to anticipate some of our needs and adapt accordingly.