In this episode, I speak with travel expert Dawn Barclay on how to make travel fun as a family, even for kids who are anxious, inflexible, or neurodiverse!
Where to go/how to plan a trip based on the child's interests
Making travel easier by making it predictable
If you should try to stick to routines or go with the flow
What kinds of transportation to take so you can stay in charge
If kids clubs are safe for your children
Her tip for the best places to stay
And why knowing your child is the most important part of travel planningDawn M. Barclay has spent a career working in various aspects of journalism, starting with corporate communications work (brochures, profiles, newsletters, press releases, web content) and then branching out into magazine writing and editing. She has held senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. She was the recipient of a First Prize Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for a story on travel law, and in August 2022, Rowman & Littlefield released her non-fiction book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. Essentially the ASD travel bible, the book incorporates over one hundred interviews with parents, Certified Autism Travel Professionals, mental health professionals and special needs advocates.
You can find Dawn's book on Amazon or the publisher's website.