Traveling Different - by Dawn M Barclay (Paperback)

About the Book

This book combines advice from certified autism travel professionals, parents, and advocates to restructure every aspect of vacations for those with autism/ASD or mood/distraction disorders, though the tips can be used to soothe any child's travel anxieties.

Book Synopsis

This book combines advice from certified autism travel professionals, parents, and advocates to restructure every aspect of vacations for those with autism/ASD or mood/distraction disorders, though the tips can be used to soothe any child's travel anxieties.

Review Quotes

Barclay, a longtime travel agent and editor at Travel Agent magazine, found her life changed when she became a mother. She searched for a book to help her navigate traveling with two young children but came up empty-handed. Years later, she has created the book she once needed, with guidance from Certified Autism Travel Professionals, mental health experts, and parents of children on the spectrum. Starting from the premise that every family should be able to travel, Barclay's book includes tips on packing a "go-to" bag, creating a relaxed vacation schedule that works for the entire family, preparing for a trip with bibliotherapy (including lists of books to read with children), and navigating TSA precheck and international travel. It also lists sites that are certified as accommodating for autistic people. Much of the book's guidance will also be useful for families with neurotypical children as well. An essential read, not only for parents of autistic or otherwise neurodivergent children but for all families.

Dawn Barclay has filled a void with her book Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD), affects 1 in 5 children as per a recent survey. With 87% of parents with a child on the spectrum saying that they do not take a vacation as a family and 93% will travel if there were more autism-friendly places to go, it was high time someone wrote a book like this. Born out of a series of interviews of those in the know combined with Dawn's cutting-edge research on how to make travel as seamless as possible, this book holds each and every parent´s hand through pre planning to executing the trip till you get back home after a memorable journey...memorable, mind you, not for the disasters but for all the fun and amazing memories. Having dealt with all aspects of travel in minute detail, she summarizes each chapter into Action Steps. This is a must-read for all parents irrespective of whether your child has a disability or not.

Dawn Barclay's Traveling Different is an invaluable guide for parents and families of children with special needs and provides a concise blueprint for enjoyable, stress-free travel. A terrific resource that any family can benefit from.

In Traveling Different, Dawn Barclay provides essential strategies and tools to improve quality of life for families with autistic and neurodivergent loved ones that will enhance their ability to travel with confidence and joy. Drawing from her years of expertise in travel and as a parent, she opens up a world of opportunities for families who are understandably hesitant to explore all that travel offers. A truly unique book that will make a huge difference in personal growth for all family members.

It's through [an] enormously generous, empathetic prose that Barclay is able to carefully shoehorn in facts, statistics, and left-brain methodology in a manner that feels narratively seamless. She also provides in-depth, personalized examples and scenarios, furthering the reader's sense of both empowerment and empathy--especially if he or she is themselves a parent potentially within this complex predicament. This is reflected in passages highlighting things one wouldn't normally expect to find in a book of this nature, yet simultaneously affirming Barclay genuinely knowing her stuff, and wanting the reader to come away from the book as informationally empowered as possible.

Traveling Different is now mandatory when packing the diaper bags and backpacks of kids with special needs. Industry veteran Dawn Barclay has done the research for you and she thoroughly details the ins, outs, and best practices of successfully navigating air travel, rail travel, cruising, hotels, and especially restaurants, museums, and venues. Trust her--this book covers it all.

Whether you're planning a day trip or an extended vacation, Dawn M. Barclay's Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse will bring your family together. Filled with valuable travel tips and tools, this comprehensive guide will ease your travel worries with its thoughtful guidance surrounding numerous modes of transportation, special accommodation options, as well as suggested modifications, itineraries, and resources. So now go pack your bags - it's time to make life-long memories together!

About the Author

Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. She started as a travel agent before branching out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and Insider Travel Report. She resides in New York's scenic Hudson Valley.