Whether by air, land, or sea, traveling can be especially stressful with a family member on the autism spectrum. Preparation is the key element to a happy and memorable vacation. The following are some tips for traveling and vacationing with a child with autism brought to you by the National Autism Network.

Call ahead to the place you are staying and check for any special accommodations they make for children with special needs. If you are attending an amusement park, visiting guest services to inquire about a special needs pass for your child should be the FIRST thing you do. It is also helpful to bring a physician's note detailing your child's disorder. Be sure to bring items your child may need, like headphones to drown out large crowd noise or special snacks to accommodate any specific diet needs.

It may help your child with autism, and your family as a whole, to have built in mid-day breaks to wind down from the morning activities and to gear up for the night's adventures. Your child may get overwhelmed spending too much time with crowds and loud noises regardless of the coping strategies you implement.

Remember, this isn't just your vacation, it belongs to everybody. Provide your family members with a variety of different types of destinations and activities to determine that there is something for everybody.

If your family is searching for adventure on the high seas, then look no further than Autism on the Seas. Since 2007, the organization has been dedicated to assisting the cruise industry in providing cruise vacations for individuals and families with special needs. 

A growing number of airlines are offering mock airplane simulations that allow for your child to experience what it's like to visit the airport. Your child can experience every aspect of flight without ever leaving the ground. The TSA has a helpful list of specific information for passengers with special needs. There is even a  Frequent Flyer app that offers another way of introducing your child to the airport experience, called The Smart Fish.

For more information and suggestions about having a child on the autistic spectrum, visit www.NationalAutismNetwork.com. The National Autism Network was founded with the mission to be the largest online resource for the autism community and provide the most comprehensive information and news related to Autism. The site includes a provider directory, discussion forums, events calendar, social community, hundreds of autism resources and more.