Wow! It’s finally happening. My very first blog. I have thought about this moment and how I would feel. How you would all feel while reading it. If you are here it is probably because you’ve watched me grow this travel business. A job that kind of fell into my lap and I have been running with it since.
Special needs travel
I started this travel business so I could plan awesome vacation travel for family and friends. Never in a million years did I think it would turn into what it has today. But the more I got into this business the more I realized I was built for more than just travel anywhere. I think you guys knew it too. If you have been here from the beginning then you know that I was offering travel anywhere. Europe, All Inclusives, Mexico, Hawaii, Disney, Universal, cruises. BUT you guys kept coming to me for Disney and Universal. That was it! It clearly showed that I had a passion for both and not to toot my own horn, but I’m really good at it. Even so, the more I booked those two the more I realized that there was a need for something more. Something bigger.
I think it’s safe to say you have seen my page evolve a couple of times as I have figured things out. Recently you have seen me mention “special needs” more. Sometimes my occasional talk about Autism and my oldest son Tristan.
What is Autism
As most of you know my oldest son Tristan is autistic. But what is Autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States today.
Autism Speaks
So what does that mean? In simpler terms, it means their brain works a bit different. In a more magical way, really. Autistic people see the world in a different light and there are many things we can learn from them.
However, because of their obstacles and the routine change that comes with traveling, going on a vacation can be difficult. But that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t travel or experience things that neurotypical people do.
Creating a space for everyone
When I see posts, reels, and blogs about travel, it’s coming from the average family. Personally, I can only relate to those people on a certain level. I know that traveling with my family means that I would have to change things up a bit.
We would need a list of events so Tristan knows what to expect and I could properly “frontload” him. I would need to check out the menus beforehand because he is so picky about what he eats. (Lets be real, Ethan is picky too) Then, I would need to look at the shows and see if there’s any special effects because he is sensitive to sound. I would need to research some quiet spots in the parks in case he gets overwhelmed and needs a break. Which resort is going to be more sensory friendly…. the list goes on.
That’s where Special Kind of Magic came in. That’s when I realized I wanted to create this space for all families but especially families with special needs. I realized that there was a need for this in the travel industry. A big need. I want families like mine to feel confident traveling. I want families like yours to know that you can travel! You deserve this just as much as anyone else. You can go on that trip, and you WILL go on that trip!
Adventure is out there
If you’re still reading this, Thank you! Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me in this journey always. I just know that this is where I belong and if you’re here, our paths were meant to cross.
With that being said, stick around. There are many more blogs to come. So much information to be learned about special needs traveling to all Disney destinations, Universal Studios, and Certified Autism Centers around the world. This is my passion and I am going for it. But hey, even if you’re not a special needs family, this information is useful for you too. Especially if you have little ones.
