This week's travel news brings you exciting news about The Palm Beaches in Florida and updates on Attraction Assistant Passes from the Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood Resort.

If you are finding you need help planning and booking your next vacation head on over to my website www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com to get started planning.

Links to articles talked about in the show:

The Palm Beaches becomes and Autism Certified Destination - https://autismtravel.com/2023/06/27/discover-the-palm-beaches/

How Florida can be a perfect Autism-Friendly vacation - https://www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/post/let-me-show-you-how-florida-can-be-a-perfect-destination-for-an-autism-friendly-vacation

Meow Wolf has completed a company-wide accreditation to enhance the guest experience for autistic and sensory-sensitive visitors - https://autismtravel.com/2023/06/08/meowwolf/

Is Meow Wolf Autism-Friendly? - https://www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/post/is-meow-wolf-autism-friendly

Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood changes it's Attraction Assistance Pass - https://attractionsmagazine.com/a-new-disability-pass-rolled-out-today-at-universal-parks/Autism-Friendly

Universal Studios - https://www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/post/autism-friendly-universal-studios

Welcome back to the Autism Travel Podcast. I'm taking a shift with things and rather than speaking about very specifically how I can help you travel I want to inspire you to travel with your autistic child by sharing all the emerging autism travel news! There is a lot! I'll try to keep the episodes under 10 mins so you get the news you need. All the articles that I reference are in the show notes if you want to read further.

Of course, I will continue to talk about how I can help you travel and to inspire you to travel over on my:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lilyandmagnoliatravel/

If you are ready to plan your next family vacation and find you need support with planning and booking it I'm here for you! Head on over to www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/plan-your-trip to get started.

Dubai Announces Initiative to Become First Certified Autism Destination.

https://autismtravel.com/2022/12/15/dubai/

Tips for an Autism-Friendly Vacation in Dubai.

https://www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/post/tips-for-an-autism-friendly-vacation-in-dubai

Dubai’s Atlantis Aquaventure becomes the first waterpark in the Middle East to earn the IBCCES Certified Autism Center.

https://autismtravel.com/2023/03/28/aquaventure/

Plan an Autism-Friendly Vacation at Warner Bros World in Abu Dhabi.

https://www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/post/plan-an-autism-friendly-vacation-at-warner-bros-world-in-abu-dhabi

LEGOLAND Resorts that all of its US based parks, LEGOLAND® California, LEGOLAND® Florida, and LEGOLAND will become Certified Autism Centers™ (CAC) by spring 2023.

https://autismtravel.com/2023/02/06/legolandus/

My trip to LEGOLAND Florida

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClqoTJ9jCWp/

Mariott Winterhaven

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgTzf_jFDg/

LEGOLAND Disability Pass

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClyXBscjrXa/

The Great Wolf Lodge Announces Partnership with IBCCES Leading the Pack For Accessibility and Inclusion at Indoor Water Park Resorts.

https://autismtravel.com/2023/04/26/greatwolflodge/

This episode I wanted to give you some inspiration from an adult on the autism spectrum that travels the world.

My guest is Shalese runs her Instagram account and details how she travels the world and pays attention to her own personal cues. What I loved the most about this interview was that Shalese is unapologetically living her life and traveling the world. She has figured out how to the travel the world and with support so can you!  

Shalese Nicole Heard (Autistic Travel Goddess) holds a dual Master's degree: Public Health and Business Administration. She is a content creator, and author with a passion for Autism Advocacy, and Travel. She set out to create the Autistic Travel Goddess platform to showcase traveling from an autism-friendly perspective, with the goal of empowering other Autistic people to see the world. She is currently writing books about travel, and general life as an adult with Autism. Shalese recently self published a book of quotes and musings about what she's learned traveling with Autism. Outside of travel and raising autism awareness, she enjoys fashion, reading and water sports. Connect with Shalese on:

Facebook.com/autistictravelgoddess

Youtube.com/autistictravelgoddesssnh

Instagram.com/autistictravelgoddess

Do you need help planning and booking a vacation but you don't know where to start? Head on over to my website and reach out to me and allow me to be your travel advisor and help your family book and plan an unforgettable vacation that meets everyone's needs!  www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/contact

Are you itching to get out of your house but worried about support while you are traveling with your autistic loved one?  Don't worry!  I've got your covered with my free guide of what questions to ask when planning a vacation with your loved one.  Head here to get the guide!  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fd57bea486a67bf127d15b0

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've talked about how you can travel, why you can travel and where you can travel.  This week on the podcast we are talking about now that you've decided to travel, how outside of myself, that you can get some support while you are traveling.  Of course, you leave the planning of the trip and the booking of the trip up to me and we work together to make this trip happen with as little stress as possible.  But now imagine you are at your destination but we've already talked about this unique service I have partnered with.  You are finding you want a break from your caregiving duties and you need just some help.  I have the perfect service that we can add to your trip which is hiring a traveling respite care provider.  This can be added to your trip package to make it easy to keep your payment in one fee but this service might surprise you at how helpful it can be!  

A little bit about the service - Fly along or travel companions for the elderly, families & persons with and without disabilities. Breakrelief Sitters provides you a break from your caregiving duties while on vacation.  

Need help planning your next family vacation head here! ----> www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/contact

Find more about Breakrelief Sitters on Instagram.  

Need help asking questions about what to look for in an autism-friendly property. Check out my free guide here!  ---->  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fd57bea486a67bf127d15b0  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vacation or Epic MOVE! Should you travel with a child no matter what age with autism?  Kids with autism thrive on set schedules, and vacations in new places far from home compounded with the stress of flying, strangers, new smells, new sounds can cause discomfort and disrupt routines.  What is the point when your child is so used to their daily life?  Why bother to stress them out with the packing and social stories to set them up for the vacation?  Often it feels like a military move with they have to adjust to the new place and you run the risk of a child that is well adjusted at home exploding in a meltdown due to the heat of Florida.  

What is the point?  

Do you need help finding an autism-friendly resort?  Check out my free guide to helping you ask the right questions when looking for a resort for your family!  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5fd57bea486a67bf127d15b0

After you've read this guide do you need help planning a trip with your family?  Check out my website and fill out my form to get started working with me as your travel advisor to start planning a family vacation.  www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/contact

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planning vacations of any kind involve a lot of research. After all, your goal is to go on vacation your whole family will love! However, the hours upon hours of emails, phone calls, and looking up just one more thing is enough to make you want to skip the vacation planning period!
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Of course, once you think of all the autistic meltdowns, toddler temper tantrums, juggling luggage, and maneuvering around new destinations, the appeal to take a vacation is even less. 
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I hear you! 
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When my oldest son was diagnosed with autism, I thought our days of travel were long gone! I didn’t know how he would react in new places or the sensory overload. But all that changed one day when my son came home and asked me to plan a trip to the National Mall in Washington DC.

Need help planning a trip?  Head here to find out more about how I can help your family plan an unforgettable trip considering and meeting everyone's needs!  ----> www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/contact

Grab my guide "Top 5 Things an Autism Friendly Property Offers You" and get the answer to the questions I ask when looking for autism-friendly resorts for clients!  Find it here!  

• Check out my blog post and podcast episode all about Visit Mesa, the World's First Autism Certified City! 
• This next episode is all about Myrtle Beach, SC's parks and recs department becoming an Autism Certified Center! 
• Learn how I work with you as your travel advisor! 
• Learn about TSA Cares and other programs out there that help you prepare your loved one for traveling!  You can also learn more about this program here and the Sunflower Lanyard program!  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is the last day of The Special Needs Travel Podcast.

⁣⁣However, it's not the last day of my podcast. I'm moving away from the Special Needs Travel podcast to come to terms with my ignorance with ableism and to better represent WHO I serve. ⁣⁣As much as I want to help those with other disabilities I know there are other accessible travel advocates that do a better job at who they serve, unless you really want to work with me I won't turn you away, but I know that I need to speak more loudly and more clearly to families with autism. ⁣⁣As such I'm not pivoting, I'm simply clearly defining what my podcast will be about. To learn more about my mission and who I serve and what I will do from here on out listen to the episode! ⁣⁣

What topics do you want to heat about related to autism travel?

Sponsorship opportunities - www.lilyandmagnoaliatravel.com/podcast

Work with me -  www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com/contact

Find out more about my business - www.lilyandmagnoliatravel.com

Find me on IG - www.instagram.com/lilyandmagnoliatravel

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.