You don't want to miss this fascinating conversation I had with Kayla, a special education educator turned travel advisor, who specializes in helping families with special needs, particularly those with autistic kids, navigate the complexities of travel. Here’s an insightful look into Kayla's journey, her dual careers, and her mission to make travel accessible and enjoyable for all families. Kayla has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by families with special needs children and has dedicated her professional life to both education and travel planning. You can read my conversation with her here.
Also, you can grab the “Going On An Airplane” free story here.
Travel and Autism, Kayla's Background
Tara: Can you tell everybody a little bit about yourself?
Kayla: Yeah, so my name is Kayla. I live in Orlando, Florida with my husband who is a Marine and our two boys. I have a 13-year-old who is on the spectrum. And then I have a 9-year-old boy who is neurotypical and we live here in Orlando.
Tara: And what do you do for a living?
Kayla: So currently I have two jobs. I am a special education educator. I have been a one-on-one paraprofessional with a little girl with Down syndrome for the last few years. I’m kind of an above para staffing, so I’m in a self-contained room. So that means that I get to help lots of other students as well, whom are all on the spectrum. About three years ago, I started a new adventure as a travel advisor specializing in special needs travel, specifically with autism. This is actually my last year teaching because I’m going full-time with my travel business.
Journey Into Special Needs Travel
Tara: Tell us about what you do. You help parents and families with special needs travel. What got you into this field?
Kayla: We moved from Southern California to Florida because my husband got his dream job here. I started sharing our adventures to Disney and Universal and other places in Orlando on social media, detailing how we manage to travel with our son who is on the spectrum. People started reaching out with questions, and a travel agency approached me, suggesting that I could do this as a job. So, I took all the courses and training, and it started from there. I wanted to help families and be the resource I didn’t have when my son was younger.
Tara: I love that you're taking your experience of a decade or more to help other families. I think of my former families and how they could have used somebody like you to allow themselves to feel comfortable going on vacation.
Making Magic Accessible For All
Tara: I saw this quote on your website, what does “making magic accessible for all” mean to you?
Kayla: I came up with that about three years ago. It means that every family, whether they have special needs, autism, or are neurotypical, should know that there are resources and accommodations to help them feel confident traveling. It's when you get that confidence to take your child to the grocery store or do a staycation in your area, you don't necessarily have to go on this elaborate big vacation. Taking them out in the first place is one big step. Being able to make that accessible for families is just huge to me.
Starting Small and Building Confidence
Tara: It’s great that you say it can start with small outings because even with neurotypical kids, that can be a challenge. How do you suggest families start small and dream bigger?
Kayla: 87% of autism families don't go on vacation at all. Of that, 93% said they would if they knew about resources and accommodations. Starting small helps build confidence for bigger trips. There are places like grocery stores and therapy centers that are certified autism centers, which helps families feel more confident.
Growing Accessibility and Support
Tara: The first step in accessibility I remember was sensory-friendly films. Now, we see sensory rooms at football games and more. What are your thoughts on the growing accessibility?
Kayla: It's amazing. Programs like Culture City are creating sensory tents at concerts with sensory toys and noise-canceling headphones. This is a fantastic step in the right direction.
Challenges In Traveling With Autistic Children
Tara: In your years of doing this, what do you find is the most difficult part of travel for families with autistic kids?
Kayla: The biggest challenges are transitioning and elopement. Making sure their safe foods are on hand and managing transitions are crucial. Dealing with public reactions to meltdowns can be very stressful for families.
Tara: What are parents' biggest fears when it comes to travel?
Kayla: A lot of them want to ensure there are resources and accommodations at their destination, that creates a huge sense of confidence. Knowing that people will be understanding and able to assist when they get there.
Tara: What do people tend to forget about when traveling with an autistic child?
Kayla: They often forget that there are now many resources and accommodations available. For example, destinations certified as autism centers, where staff are trained to work with guests on the spectrum, can make a huge difference. Many families don't realize these options exist.
Certified Autism Centers
Tara: Can you tell us more about these certified autism centers and their services?
Kayla: Places like Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos are advanced certified autism centers with nannies trained to work with guests on the spectrum. These resorts offer services like one-on-one buddies who can assist families, giving parents a break and allowing them to enjoy their vacation more.
Inclusive and Disability-Friendly Destinations
Tara: What destinations do you find most inclusive and disability-friendly?
Kayla: Disney destinations are incredibly accommodating, though not officially certified. Their customer service is exceptional. Other certified autism centers include Legoland and SeaWorld. Some all-inclusive destinations, like C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado, also offer great accommodations even if they aren’t officially certified.
Tara: How do you help families plan their trips to Disney?
Kayla: We discuss budget, preferred resorts, park preferences, noise levels, transportation options, and food accommodations. I provide guides for gluten-free options and quiet spots in the parks. We also talk about the best times to visit and the importance of planning rest days to avoid burnout. I talk to them about things that they're hoping for and things that they're nervous about with their child. Then based off of my experience and the destinations that I have helped other families plan for, then I will be able to give them my recommendation of resorts that are certified or not. I can back them up with their customer service and their accommodations and resources.
Tara: It makes me think about places that people discover that are not certified, but you've noticed their interactions and see how wonderful they are.
Kayla: Yes, that's why it's important for our families to travel. I always tell my families it's so important for us to expose our children to the world, but it's even more important for us to expose the world to our children. The biggest thing that we're trying to do is achieve inclusion.
It's one of those things where sometimes you meet an organization or an individual who maybe doesn't really know anything about autism but they have that human connection and there's a lot to be said about that too.
Tara: I think what you just explained so beautifully is bringing disabilities or autism, any of these things from the level of awareness to acceptance. And acceptance, I've heard people say is an action. So when we're providing experiences like this, we're putting it into motion so that awareness can move to acceptance.
Tips For Flying with an Autistic Child
Tara: What are your top tips for flying with an autistic child?
Kayla: The biggest thing is to contact TSA Cares at least three days before traveling. They have TSA agents trained to work with guests on the spectrum. Not every airport has this, but they are expanding. It’s important to prepare and communicate your needs to ensure a smoother experience.
Another thing families can do is when they book their airline ticket, they can add something called D-P-N-A code, which is disability passenger needing assistance code to their flight ticket. That alerts the airline that they are traveling with someone with a disability. So they will need more assistance and when they get to the counter they can let them know if they would like to be one of the first ones on the plane to board in a quiet setting.
You can also get the sunflower lanyard. It is a green and yellow disability sunflower lanyard that alerts the staff that they have an invisible disability.
Tara: I think there's a lot of people out there that would need someone like you to help navigate this. I think families want to go on vacation and are just not sure how to navigate the process.
Kayla: Yes, and I've found Social stories can be tremendously helpful. To help them feel more confident and help the child feel more confident too.
Tara: So where can everybody find you?
Kayla: You can find me at specialkindofmagic.com. That is my blog where I share resources, tips and tricks for traveling with children on the autism spectrum.
Instagram: @special.kind.of.magic
Facebook: Kayla Castro Travel Advisor
Watch the interview here:
Listen to the podcast of this episode: Episode 72
Related Topics:
How To Fly with an Autistic Child
If you use visual supports in your classroom or home, you are going to want to sign up for this free Visual Supports Starter Set ASAP! Click here to have one sent to your inbox. Also, be sure to read more about visual supports and how they can help autistic children here.
0 Comments