Autism Acceptance Month Day 6: What Community Accommodations Exist for Families of an Autistic Individual?

Posted on by Amy Nielsen

Thankfully, the world is slowly becoming more accommodating to autistic individuals and their families. While it may take a little digging, you can probably find many of these, and even more, in your community.

Sensory Friendly Entertainment 

Movie theaters, live shows such as plays and concerts, and other types of entertainment, often have sensory-friendly times. During these times lights may be dimmed, music lowered, and instead of remaining in their seat, kids/adults with autism are free to stand up and dance or sing along.

Theme Park Accommodations

Most theme parks have disability access for attractions, which means rather than standing in long lines, families get a virtual spot with a comeback time. Additionally, many theme parks have quiet sensory rooms where an over-stimulated autistic child can re-regulate.

Doctors, Dentists, and Other Providers

Many offer families the option of coming in for a tour so they know what to expect on appointment day.

Virtual Tours

Many businesses are also starting to offer virtual tours where, from the comfort of your home, your autistic family member can familiarize themselves with the physical space of a place ahead of time.

Able Eyes is a great one-stop shop for accessing virtual tours and is searchable by zip code and type of business.

Autism-Friendly Travel

Most airports will allow autistic individuals to tour an airport ahead of time. Date of flight, they are often allowed in the first boarding group. Some airports will even assign an autism-trained TSA agent to assist the family from airport arrival to flight departure.

Many hotels are becoming autism certified. Trained staff offer quick check-in, sensory bags for hotel stay use, and sensory areas throughout the property.

Before you visit any business or location, call ahead and ask what accommodations they offer autistic individuals, and in most cases, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you to each business that has taken a step toward accommodating individuals with autism.

Tomorrow’s Question: What educational options are available for children with autism?

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Amy Nielsen

Amy Nielsen is a Senior Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency. She is also an autism advocate and author. Her works include Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family, and her young adult debut, Worth It. She is also a freelance editor and caregiver coach helping families navigate the early days of an autism diagnosis. When not reading or writing, Amy and her family can be found boating the waters of Tampa Bay.