Holiday options with ASD kids - something worth knowing!

[cjn27b]

Thought I'd mention this, as I brought it up recently at a local support group and everyone went 'corr, wish I'd known about that when the kids were younger'.

Neilson holidays offers 1-1 nanny service for any SN kids who attend their kids clubs at no extra cost. So, this kind of holiday isn't the cheapest (typically £500 per person per week). Pretty much everything (such as kids clubs) are included. Also they do last minute discounts.

We went last year for a week, prior to DS1s diagnosis and explained he had some social communication difficulties and he got a lovely 1-1 nanny. This year we're going ahead. 1-1 nanny's been arranged, forms filled giving details of his difficulties etc... Last year both our boys had a wonderful time, so here we go again. Hooray. It was so lovely to have lots of time with just DH and me, time to just sit about talk when we felt like it (not cram everything into the few free minutes here and there), and chill out.

Anyway, thought I'd pass this on in case there are others who might wish to have this info.

How brilliant, I'm going to look it up now. I imagine the kids make really good friends with each other too as they have so much in common.
Thanks for sharing.

Incidentally, they don't mention this service in the brochure! We only found out on arrival last time, and talked to them after booking.

Also, there were no other kids in his group last year with ASD, but they helped him interact as much as possible (which wasn't very much at all, but that's DS). However, they did lots of things with DS like take him dingy sailing or kyaking with just one other kid, and managed to work out how to entertain him in a way that was appropriate for his abilities.

There was one older boy (late teens), with SN who needed full time care. He too was well looked after by staff. His parents take him to the same resort each year as they know it'll work. Over time he has learnt to waterski, and each day he went to tennis lessons with his dad and together they played in the end of week tournament.

We were total package holiday snobs before this experience. And, now all I can say is I take back everything I previously thought. OK, so elements of it are like posh Butlins... But, it is one place where we felt totally accepted, taken care of, and the staff just wanted us all to have a great break.

i have a friend who's child has sever quad CP, they are brilliant with him too, its amazing the the things they do with him. She would never consider taking him surfing for example BUT they do.