217 | can you travel with your autistic child?

About this episode

Dr. Tay discusses the challenges and strategies for traveling with autistic children, emphasizing preparation and flexibility.

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 traveling with an autistic child can feel overwhelming to even imagine. what if they struggle with the routine change? what if the flight is hard? what if the unpredictability feels too overwhelming for everyone? in this episode, dr. tay reflects on her recent european trip and her thoughts on traveling with autistic children. this episode is a conversation about fear, accommodations, and why having an autistic child does not automatically mean your family can't explore the world. dr. tay discusses how preparation, research, flexibility, and realistic expectations can help families feel more confident trying new experiences, while also honoring their child’s nervous system and support needs. in this episode, you’ll hear: how fear and uncertainty can quietly stop families from traveling why research and preparation can make travel feel more manageable practical ways to build accommodations and predictability into trips why flexibility matters more than a perfectly structured itinerary how vacations and novel experiences can sometimes support regulation practical accommodations like TSA cares and sunflower lanyards why autistic…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Tay

Topics covered

• traveling with autistic children
• preparation and research
• flexibility in travel
• accommodations for autism
• family exploration
• managing fear and uncertainty

Keywords

• autistic child
• travel
• family
• accommodations
• preparation
• flexibility
• fear
• routine change
• TSA cares
• sunflower lanyards

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Europe

More episodes of EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

• 219 | why pride month matters for parents of autistic kids: autism and LGBTQIA+ identities · June 10, 2026 · 38 min
• 218 | the brain-body disconnect: what Spelling to Communicate taught me about autism and communication · June 4, 2026 · 54 min
• 216 | can kids actually mask? understanding autism in high-masking children · May 20, 2026 · 35 min
• 215 | parent therapy beyond talking: EMDR, IFS, ketamine, and intensive therapy with Dr. Carolyn Solo · May 14, 2026 · 40 min
• 214 | what autism looks like in toddlers (and why it’s often missed) · May 7, 2026 · 37 min
• 213 | "could I be autistic too?" what many parents realize after their child’s diagnosis · April 29, 2026 · 29 min