Is there such a thing as an ASD friendly holiday?

[waitingforgodot]

Your experiences please?! Thinking about France but wondering if its worth the hassle

we do Featherdown Farms, which is part of the Centerparcs empire, but with permanent tents on farms. Only a few tents per farm, with actual beds and flushing toilet/running water in sink (so not really camping at all, I suppose). The positives for us are that DS1 loves being outside, you can go to a different place each year and the tents are exactly the same so familiar, don't have to get on a plane (hell will freeze before I'll ever do a budget airline again), proper beds make sleeping difficulties less of a problem. It's entirely populated by families with children but the tents are far away from each other so you can get away from other children too. It's hugely expensive, but then we go away once a year for one week. It wouldn't suit escape artists though.

We have two children with autism and last year went to the Thomas Centre in Lincolnshire which is for children and adults with autism - six beautifully converted old farm buildings in the middle of the countryside. The family have a son with ASD so they always wanted to provide a holiday centre which would have suited them when their son was younger. It is very quiet but enough for our kids to do - DD is 7 and then 5 year old twins. There is a private pool you get access to for at least one hour a day. The best thing for us was that everyone was in the same boat so there are no disapproving glances etc when your kids are throwing a wobbler. Also ours are "runners" but given it is so flat there - if they ran we could at least see where they were going!! I would really recommend it but I am not sure about their availability cos last year when we were leaving in August they told us the house we wanted only had one week free for the summer of 2010. Just google the thomas centre for info. Hope this helps.

we went to crieff hydro last year and stayed in the self catering lodges (really high standard). you can use all the facilities in the hotel but you have lots more space , and the privacy to deal with your children! (if necessary...)

our 3 year old with asd did meltdown when we arrived, but had calmed down by the following day. he was assessed by the kids club, and received 1 to 1 support. we put him in for 2 hours in the morning and it was just like him going to nursery. he really liked it! (all kids over 2 can actually get 6 hours free childcare a day!!!)

i took lots of pics of accomodation, etc , and had wee photobooks and photoposters made up on truprint in the hope that he will remember it and it wont be so bad when we arrive next time.

they also have a babysitting service (which you do have to pay for). me and dh had meal in hotel one nite. kids slept right through! (did have our mobiles on table of course, but thankfully unneccesary.)

Camping ?

I think it depends on your child. We can't fly with ds1 which rules out quite a bit obviously.

He needs locked windows and doors that lock from the inside which makes cottages etc difficult to book as we never quite know what we'll get.

We have camped at featherdown and in a bell tent (can be put up by one person) successfully but it is exhausting for us as ds1 will not stay near the tent (or anywhere without walls/high fences) so even after 3 days we crawl home.

Campervans have worked well as well, but again same problem. As soon as we stop someone has to trek around after him and someone has to look after the other 2.

This year we'll try a horse boy camp. I'm hoping the volunteers providing extra sets of hands will mean that we actually get 2 seconds to breathe.

Thanks for all your replies!

Horse Boy camp sounds good! I am sure you will get a break!

No camping for us though-DS would be off like a shot. Ditto re Featherdown Farms. Will check out the Thomas Centre.
Crieff Hydro sounds lovely! Is it fairly safe for escapologists???

Featherdown farm tents are pretty difficult to escape from (ds1 tried). Our bell tent is completely sewn in so very secure. The problem is ds1 needs shadowing as soon as the tent door is open and will not stay near the tent. He just walks and walks. Dh walked for 12 hours with him one day at featherdown. Well not quite that long as i walked for stints of it but dh did the bulk. It's why we never camp for more than 2 or 3 days. idiot dh had only taken his work shoes so his feet were knackered!

Northernsky, re the Thomas centre, we are in one of the big three bedroom houses this August again and I think it is costing around £800-900 - something like that - we have paid some off in instalments so they are happy for you to do that. We are from Northern Ireland so we didn't know Lincolnshire at all but it was worth the trip for us. In terms of things to do, tbh our kids are happy just pottering about - in the centre they have a games room which is huge, you can use their bikes - there is an outdoor trampoline and the pool is fabulous. In the surrounding area, there are some really nice safe beaches which were literally deserted last August. We took the kids to an antique railway line where they had a very sedate train ride which they loved. There is enough to keep us occupied but if you have any teenagers they would be bored to death. Our NT daughter aged 7 met a little friend and she played with him most of the time. Any other questions let me know!

crieff hydro is lovely (and not too far for us cos we're in scotland)
you can check it out online.

we stayed in a 3 bedroom lodge which was fabulous. i wouldn't say the garden was escape proof. we had our maclaren major buggy with us of course! the hotel grounds are massive and include things like a golf course and quad biking, so obviously not escape proof either.

however, i would say the kids club is escape proof, so once they are in!...

it is much cheaper during the week and off peak. we paid £120 a night midweek. but when you think of all the childcare that includes too!

only bad thing was the takeaway food service they provide! (to try and get you to eat in the hotel i suppose)

waiting...

sorry to be slow to answer..
I just googled the products I wanted and tracked a company that delievred. Dh is fluent in French so he went on line and placed an order. I don't have the details ofthe company and i remember it took a while to find one but it worked.
We did the same when we went to Florida and rennted a house. Actually for that one the order was delivered early by mistake and Virgin found it and held it at their offices for us which was brilliant.

Re the flightthing. DS2 responds really well to strong repetion. We spent months goingthrough the 'get on plane, sit down, seat belt on - plane goes up - comes down , seat belt off HOLIDAY! Accompanied by mimes it seemed to work and the DCs were all fluent by the time we got there.
he travels with his DVD player and isn't allowed to out it on until he is sitting nicely and strapped in. If he wriggles and is a nusiance he knows it will be taken away andthe treats I have for him staggered throughthe flight are also taken away.
Staggered treats works well for us.

The only thing that can mess with the whole process are long delays and once we had to land at barbados en route from St Lucia and he was really thrown.
But I concentrate on him while DH looks after the other two and we have always managed.

BTW I am really really sorry my earlier posting was so smug and silly. I just tapped it out and only realised how blardy pleased with itself it sounded afterwards. i am really sorry all.

Pagwatch, I didnt find your post smug or silly at all?
I think you have been really helpful-you all have! Apparently France is mega expensive this year so may have to consider slightly further afield.

I've just come across skiing for people with autism as well. Have added a a link from my blog. Might be useful for some.