Supported holidays for adults who are autistic

[Fleurbombeury]

i wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

im thinking about setting up my own business but tbh there’s no information about setting up this sort of business.

I’ve searched and searched and there’s a gap in the market as all the supported holiday companies do it for those with learning disabilities rather than those with no learning disabilities, like people like me.

none of them seem to be abta or atol protected, so I’m wondering if they just book them at the price given, rather than like a travel agent. If that’s true it would make it so much easier for me but honestly I don’t know.

has anyone got any experience of this or advice?

What sort of ‘support’ are you suggesting? Is this for adults that need carers/live with parents but would get respite care? I can imagine it being expensive to set up/run.

its more for autistic adults that can cope reasonably well but may need a bit extra support for in airports or just the general holiday experience. Like for example an autistic adult, that would like to go on holiday but has no one to go with apart from family but would like to go with people as a friend group but doesn’t have this group. Doesn’t need personal care but needs social support or a bit of extra help. We’d have support staff, maybe 1 per 3 or 4 people, something like that. If that makes sense.

im autistic kind of in this situation so thought maybe I could set it up.

I think this assumes there are a lot of able autistic adults who are both single and do not have friends or partners to holiday with. The reason there is a gap in the market is probably because people think there isn't enough of a market for this.

I think this might be a great idea. I've read loads of posts on her from worried moms who are upset that their autistic young adults would love to do more stuff socially but don't have anyone to do it with?

I think there are ways this could be helpful. Airports are fine because of special assistance. What would make things much less stressful is stuff like for example if you'd hired a car someone went to collect it for you and brought it to the airport entrance. To go to a hotel with allocated parking for each guest to remove that stress, allocated sunbeds by the pool and on the beach for each party that are in the same place for the duration of the stay, room service available all day, no loud entertainment, no buffets - proper table service in all restaurants that can be booked in advance.

Also most autistic people with children also have autistic children so kids' activities with much smaller groups that are autism-friendly and appropriately trained staff. An in-house nanny service so parents can get a break.

Some hotels have all of the above but they are hard to find and it's not always clear when booking whether this is the case, which creates a lot of hassle in finding somewhere appropriate.

I know quite a number tbh. Including myself. Or maybe they have friends that can’t go with them or partners that don’t want to. Or maybe they just want to holiday as independently as they can.

I was thinking of doing Disney specifically and running a holiday or two a year. Nothing more than that tbh.

i know it’s not a perfect business idea, but there’s got to be more people like me out there, I can’t be the only autistic that is like this.

There's already group tours who provide this kind of light support, I've seen them advertised including pick up from your home address. Typically they market at the older age group but any age can go. I've also seen a similar package aimed at 18-40 advertised recently which annoyed me because I'm in my 40's!

None are specifically aimed at autism, but not everyone with autism would want to be in a holiday group so narrowly focussed - my dd (has asd) says she couldn't think of anything worse. She's a bit airport obsessed anyway, loves planes etc. she travels solo without issue (to meet someone the other end, she won't stay in a hotel alone)

Oh sorry, I didn't realise you meant only single adults with no kids. And Disney would be my idea of absolute hell, with all the people and noise etc so can't advise on that!!

Yes, this is what I thought. This idea is from my step mum, who sees me wanting to go abroad specifically Disney, but can’t do it by myself. So she has to come too. Which she doesn’t particularly want but will do for me. So we thought why not create something specifically for this group. I’d searched for supported holiday companies, but they were all for those with learning disabilities of some description, which I don’t have, so I don’t fit there but also there’s nowhere for me to fit.

I think the issue will also be the expense. Look at how much singles holidays ate in general then add the cost of the support. You would then have to consider the range of autistic people you might have. Some people could have much higher needs than others. They may not find it easy to be tolerant if other autistic people.

Also a thought - could you travel as a volunteer yourself? Theres orgs that arrange tours for sight impaired for instance, or those in wheelchairs, as an able bodied person you could actually be the helper

I am autism and other disabilities when I was younger I did go on group tours especially ones that also got you to the airport included in the price. It did mean I did no have to worry about nothing you had a rep with you at all times and a coach to get you about
I have travelled the world like this when times were better! I was no the only one there was always a couple of autism peoples there
highly recommend them although it is expensive but it was a safe way for me to travel “by my own” without being by my own if that makes sense

I think cost will be an issue, plus all the people will have different and possibly competing needs? How would you balance all that?

Group tours used to work for me as well @PinkBuffalo - until they started to insist on things like group meals and socialising with the group at all times.

Maybe more autism-friendly group tours / autism aware reps would be good?

I’d actually consider using a business like OP is suggesting, but not for Disney as that’s my idea of hell unless there are very few other people there

The reason why I’m thinking about doing specifically Disney, is because it’s been my life long special interest specifically Disney holidays. So that’s all I know about. I hate travelling to other places tbh. That’s why I’m thinking about Disney.

im thinking about a community interest company, I don’t need to make money, just a trip to Disney would be enough for me.

I would love to go to Disney I have never been but I LOVE Disney

i will admit I never did experience the forced socialisation the only time we did have a enforced group meal was during a actual event so it did no feel forced if that makes sense
i experienced the world travelling like this (again times were better I did have more money and support at home) I would struggle a lot more now I live by my own

but for any younger peoples like I was it might be a option. The reps were very good. My rep in Kenya had to deal with a bit of meltdown and he as incredibly kind and calm and manage the situation kindly and reassuringly (I was refusing to stay in my hotel room at the time cos of something but it all got sorted and I did stay)

I think a group of friendless/partnerless, autistic adults that need light support and want to go to Disney is a really niche category. I think instead of setting it up as a business you should see if anyone from the 'quite a number' of people in that category that you know wants to go on holiday with you as mates and you can support each other.

@Fleurbombeury if you ever did set something up, my 26 year old DD would definitely sign up! She absolutely loves Disney but is unable to go on her own, meaning family members have to go with her, who are not as Disney obsessed. She would get such a kick out of going with another huge Disney fan

We have looked into other supported holidays companies, but they seem to be definitely catered more towards learning disabilities who may need more support than DD, which is obviously more expensive.

I never said friendless or partnerless. I just meant people who have no one who wants to go.

I want to do something to help others but there’s not much I can actually, conventional jobs don’t work for me. So thought maybe this is something I can do.

thank You, I really do want to set it up. Hopefully set it up this year and go next year. I just need to get my head around all the information.

I think this is a super idea.

I recently came home from a much needed holiday with my husband and was talking to my adult daughter about it. She's autistic, anxious but can do things with support systems in place.

She said to me 'I'd love to go mum, but I'd not cope without someone like you with me'.

A supported holiday rather than a constant companion on holiday would mean she could access holidays.

She'd need someone with her to guide her through the airport and flight, getting baggage and getting to a hotel.

Once there she'd need someone on hand to help with anxiety and show her where things were.

She'd need help to get to activities.

She'd need gentle reminding of times and places. For example when food was served and where.

But she's quite capable of repeating things once she's shown.

The difficulty is if she's not supported and has a meltdown then that the entire holiday is over for her. The amount of anxiety and mental energy expended would mean she'd need a week to recover.

But having been her 'person' for so long I know she can do this with support.

I think you'd need to be very skilled in asking and understanding the help each person needed. Putting this in place might take practice.

I always say she needs the guidance and support of a 9 year old but she's a young adult that can do some things herself.

My daughter loves Disney and would love to be able to go. Maybe Euro Disney? Flights would be easier.

Yes, I usd to be like your daughter. I’m much more able to do it myself nowadays. I’m great if I have someone I can help or direct. If I’m on my own I’m a bit oh shit what do I do.

yeah I was thinking euro Disney first, and then go from there.

id like to basically hire a couple of support workers for the holiday of some description. That can offer help like your daughter needs.

im autistic myself so can understand a lot of the issues autistic people have, but I would need a bit of help I think to start with at least.

It's extremely niche OP. A relative is an autistic adult and they absolutely would not go on holiday with strangers. I'd imagine a lot of people would feel similarly.

I think it's a good idea. I have plenty of friends who are autistic, who would be interested in something like this. They're all capable people, but would welcome a bit of extra support and an understanding group of people to travel with.