Travelling with a child on the autism spectrum can be unpredictable. My autistic son has bolted out of public spaces after seeing or hearing something that frightened him. In the middle of both a ski run and a jungle hike, Bennett, 10, has gone on strike and refused to budge after something upset him. And he has had tantrums high in the stratosphere after take off?not to mention before we’ve even left our hometown, in airport security lines.
Yet we keep travelling?and it keeps getting easier. Not only are we figuring out how to travel with a kid on the spectrum, but the world is changing too to make this easier for families like ours. More airports, attractions, hotels, resorts, cruises and destinations are starting to offer programs or services that accommodate children with diverse abilities. Here are a dozen to check out, as you plan your next vacation. 1. Vancouver International Airport

Vancouverites can sign their kids up for the I CAN Fly program with the Canucks Autism Network that includes a resource kit and video series to help families prepare for trips by covering the pre-flight process. Families can also get a YVR Autism Access Sticker for boarding passes that provides expedited access through screening and US Customs. And every fall, both the Vancouver and Kelowna airports offer accessibility tours where families travelling with someone on the spectrum can visit in person and practice the entire check-in process, from entering the airport to waiting in ...