Taking your Autistic child out of school for WDW trip?

[Nik's Mom]

Hi friends!
We have decided to go to WDW in May to celebrate our 2 DS's birthdays. We also thought May would be better in terms of weather and crowds, compared to our summer trip last year. DS 5 has mild autism. He isn't too thrilled with crowds and the heat gets to him. But I am worried about pulling him from school for a week. He will be in special ed Kindergarten this fall. He's making big improvements since I quit my job to be a stay at home Mom. I work with him by reinforcing what he does at school. Would you all pull your autistic spectrum disorder child out of school for a vacation? I don't want to hurt him academically, but I also want him to enjoy our family vacation. The summer was not a good time for our trip last year. What do you think?

 

[leise]

Well, I'm doing exactly the same thing!
When we booked our coming December trip, it was over a year ago, and my ASD DS was in a mainstream nursery, and we were expecting he wouldn't get a place in a special school. Last Christmas the last two weeks of term were a nightmare as they had nativity plays, visiting performers, carol services and parties, most of which DS found it very difficult to participate in, so ended up mainly at home. So we thought we'd be doing his school a favour of sorts by taking him away to Disney those two weeks this year. I figured that if they were resistant to granting us the holiday (you have to apply in the UK to the Headteacher and any holiday is granted at their discretion), I would say that they'd better make sure he could be fully integrated into all their activities!!
Anyway a year is a long long time, and of course now he is in a wonderful special school in an Autism Base having the most fantastic time, and I'm quite disappointed he's going to miss his school nativity. But the school were fine about us taking him out, although officially it is frowned upon. They agreed that he will probably get as much if not more development out of the trip than if he was at school. They know he'll have great interaction with us and lots of stimulating experiences. When we went 18months ago he came on leaps and bounds. Also as it is they end of term he's not going to miss too much academic stuff.

Still a shame about the nativity play, but there's always next year.........

Go for it, you can always ask the teacher to send some "work" with you to do in the evenings. And he will do so much social interaction with you and your family, with high-interest new activities, he will certainly benefit from the trip.

 

[tmli]

I have been taking my ASD son out of school for vacations every year since he started--he is now going into Grade 3. Travelling during slow times is a must for him, we couldn't handle the large crowds during school breaks. I actually find he learns alot more there than in school anyways. We spend time visiting the different countries which he is fascinated by....there is so much education and positive stimulation for him in WDW I believe it has helped contribute to his academic success. The school staff we work with are very supportive and feel it to be a very positive break to our very busy schedule.

It's nice to just wind down and get a break from Dr's, meetings etc and just have fun.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks a lot. I feel a lot better now. I wasn't sure what other parents did. I know my DS will enjoy the trip a lot more during an off-peak time.
Thanks again!

 

[dbal]

Yup! We're doing it too. In fact we planned to do a pre x-mas trip due to the anticipated low crowds & mild weather specifically with our dd in mind. She has mild asd and she will be starting a mainstream kdgtn. with a support therapist for help.

IMHO I say do what you think is best for your family and their needs. My dd did very well in her preschool and I'm confident she will do well academically in KG; however she is just starting to feel the pain of social rejection and boy does she take it hard. (especially since she doesn't seem to understand why she gets left out or rejected, etc.)


On our previous trips - she just loved feeling like she belonged. CM's are great to her. Characters are wonderful. The whole trip she feels so special and I think she deserves this.

Don't feel guilty. This trip will be such a great memory. My dd loves going through our past trip scrapbooks and telling me "our disney story"

 

[Rustysmom]

We are probably going to pull our son out of school for 3 days before Thanksgiving for our trip. He has PDD and is in an inclusion clasroom with his own aide, going into 3rd grade.

I'm afraid that he will fall behind in his work because he has a LOT of problems with math and reading, but then again, last year he was sick the whole week of Thanksgiving and missed school, and he eventually caught up and was promoted.


I think he'll have a lot of fun. The last time we went there he just turned 3 and doesn't remember much of it.

 

[HopperFan]

Disney and a family farm were places we always pulled our DS out to go visit in off season.

School said he was so energized, more verbal and attentive after these trips.

They wanted to write in his IEP that he was required to take these trips !!

We would still be doing it if my others weren't in middle & high, and unable to be pulled out.

 

[wide awake]

We take autistic DS out of school whenever we want to vacation. I just tell them during the IEP that he will miss 2-3 weeks here and there. I think it is important to give our kids something in place of the sports, parties, etc...that their peers may have. Even if he was "normal" I would take him out...as a teacher I am well aware that nothing magical happens in a classroom on a daily basis. Lots of wasted time and energy for not much education...which is why I teach for a home-based charter school now.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Well said, Wide Awake! I never thought of it that way. You are so right, people are constantly saying "why can't your son be in t-ball", "why can't your son participate in the church vacation bible class", etc... My son does not feel comfortable in those activities, but he is as happy as can be at WDW.
I feel so much better now!

 

[mbb]

WDW gives our two ASD boys confidence, people are interested in hearing about their trips....AND mom and dad can have a chance at some relaxing time too...

Best place in the world!!

We've taken them out for two weeks+, and this January we are going for three Life experience, NO CROWDS, great temps...can't be beat!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

Count me in. Pulling Ds out in Nov for a week. There is no way we could go during the really busy times. We have found the weather fantastic and the lines much smaller. Your kids will have a fantastic time.

 

[tigger2on]

My child is not autistic but severely disabled. I always take her out of school to do our Disney trips. I find it hard using a wheelchiar/ special stroller with all the crowds. I also think it is easier in terms of waiting and line ups to go during low/ value seasons. We have been May, November and Early Dec. We even were able to participate in MVMCP in low crowds in Dec.
It is easier on our family and makes the trip more worth while and less stressful on all of us.

 

[Talking Hands]

Many of the special needs kids at the schools I substitute at are taken out of school for vacations. The teachers are all for it as it broadens these childrens experiences.
We have several of the autistic kids involved in sports. Usually individual type sports like swimming and horseback riding.
We do have two boys at church attend VBS and he comes to church and Sunday School frequently. There is one difference. One communicates through sign language as he comes form a family with a deaf older cousin. His Sunday School teacher also can sign. I think this is a unique situation. the other speaks and communicates well and has one teacher he relates to well that supervises him and is willing to take him out if needed. We are a very large church and it might not be possible in a smaller church. I don't think most of the autistic kids would be comfortable.

 

[Mel6197]

I take my DD out of school every year for a vacation.. She goes year round, so she only gets 3 weeks off in the summer, And with the heat and crowds I would never go in the summer.. So we take a week or 2 off and feel No guilt at all.. Enjoy your time

 

[SweetSpot]

We take our son out of school for a couple days around a normal school holiday every year to go to WDW and now DCL. Although our kids need their time in school the experience of socialization and how to act properly while surrounded by so many people is also an important lesson. I know that it would be too overwhelming to go during busy season and feel he wouldn't have as much fun and be too overwhelmed to get as much out of the situation as I would like. I take every opportunity to get my son into different social situations and going on a vacation around so many different people and learning to deal with the noises, stimulation and crowds is as important as the lessons he might be missing in class those days. I have no guilt taking him out of school for these vacations.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks a lot. I'm so glad to hear that others do the same thing. I'll let his teacher know when school starts.

 

[stitch'smom]

I also vote for taking him out. DS1 has asperger's. He can't handle the heat or humidity so that leaves us very limited about when we can travel. I have found that given enough notice, all concerned parties (we have more than just teachers we have to inform) are much more supportive. We travelled last Dec just before Christmas. All deluxe resorts were sold out so I was expecting it to be wall to wall people. I had brought a dr's note with us just in case I wanted to get the special assistance pass but he did just fine w/o. The longest line was 20min for Pooh. I would suggest getting the SAP just in case. You don't have to use it but it's there if you need it. It can be very hot and humid in May.
(sorry got off topic) We all noticed a huge difference in him when we got home too. He decided to become mr social and introduce us to everyone including Bert and Mary Poppins at dinner. His teacher said it was probably one of the best things I ever did for him. Next time we go it will be in Jan.

 

[saymama]

I pulled both of my autistic sons out of school for a week to go in May. They actually used it in class. They talked about it and used it as bribes too. WE had a blast and are doing it again this coming May! I'm so excited to be going back so soon.

 

[SueM in MN]

This site has a lot of good info on travel to WDW with specail needs kids. Especially appropriate for this thread is her link called "Relax! Vacation is Therapy! Everything will be fine!"
Going during non-peak times means much smaller crowds (in fact, you may find lines with minimal or even no wait at all, or, if you are really lucky, CMs who are basically begging people to get in lines (yes, we have seen that happen).

Originally posted by stitch'smom
I had brought a dr's note with us just in case I wanted to get the special assistance pass but he did just fine w/o. The longest line was 20min for Pooh. I would suggest getting the SAP just in case. You don't have to use it but it's there if you need it. It can be very hot and humid in May.

I just wanted to mention that if you ask for a Special Assistance Pass, you will be told they don't have anything like that. Don't worry, though. What they have is a Guest Assistance Card (it used to be called Guest Assistance Pass, but the name was changed about 4 years ago because people though "Pass" meant you got right on rides without waiting). To request a Guest Assistance Card, you go to Guest Relations in any of the parks with your child and expalin your needs/what sorts of assistance you need. That might be things like treating a stroller as a wheelchair so you can bring it into lines and buildings where strollers are not normally allowed. Many people with children with autism spectrum disorders find this helpful (it brings a little "safe place" with you). The card might also say that you need a quieter, less congested place to wait. The card is not meant to shorten or eliminate your wait, but acts as a tool to let the CMs know what kind of conditions/accomidation you need to enjoy and have a safe visit.

 

[ladydancer]

My grandson 5 is also Autisic. He starts going to reg. school this fall but in a "special" Kindergarten class.

We are absolutely taking him out of school to go to WDW. He goes to school all year long. We have talked to his teacher and he thinks it a great idea. He says alot of the parents take there autisic children out of school for WDW. As a matter of fact he gave us a paper on "Taking an Autisic Child to WDW". TJ is doing so well in school. He is excelling by leaps and bounds. Exceding our expectations. We are actually able to communicate with him as he is learning to speak. As long as we reinforce the everday things he has learned, a few days at WDW isn't going to make any difference.