October 29, 2026
Dear Jamie Biesiada,
Thank you for the time and care you invested in your recent article, Enabling autism-friendly travel experiences. On behalf of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), we appreciate your efforts to raise awareness of the real-world travel barriers encountered by autistic individuals and their families.
We want to take this opportunity to recognize your attention to the environmental adaptations and structured behavioral supports that can make travel less stressful for autistic individuals and their families. Highlighting strategies such as airport practice runs, visual itineraries, and quiet check-in lines is vital for expanding community access and reducing sensory overload.
Several of the programs mentioned in the article may also serve as helpful resources for families planning future travel. Autism Double-Checked works with travel providers to better support autistic travelers through resources such as the Autism Passport, a tool that allows autistic individuals and their families to communicate their specific needs, preferences, and potential challenges to travel providers. The organization also offers Autism Flies, a program developed in partnership with participating airports and airlines that gives autistic individuals and their families an opportunity to practice airport procedures, including security screening and boarding, before taking an actual flight. Another resource highlighted in the article is Travelmation’s Accessible Travel program, which connects travelers with advisors who have received additional training related to accessibility and can help families prepare for accommodations and potential barriers during travel.
Though the author appropriately highlights various strategies that can ease travel-related stress, future coverage would benefit from moving beyond individual anecdotal success stories to also providing examples of evidence-based practices, such as visual schedules, task analysis, systematic desensitization, and positive reinforcement, that can help autistic individuals prepare for unfamiliar environments and navigate travel-related challenges.
Although accessibility is essential for families navigating travel with a child who has a disability, there is an equally critical dimension that often remains inaccessible. One example of this is the cost. Organizing specialized transportation, securing credentialed staff, and developing task-analyzed itineraries significantly increase overall expenses. When added to standard airfare and lodging, specialized tour and consultation fees can place a substantial financial burden on families.
The vagueness surrounding service costs in the article leaves families without a clear understanding of whether these travel programs are broadly feasible or primarily limited to those with significant financial means. Furthermore, only relying on personal anecdotes without referencing peer-reviewed literature can be somewhat limiting. While individual success stories are encouraging, grounding future articles in empirical data and providing readers with direct access to that data, when possible, ensures families receive a complete, accurate, and realistic picture of accessible travel options.
At ASAT, we share your commitment to expanding meaningful access to autistic individuals across all areas of life. Thank you again for drawing attention to these important efforts.
Sincerely,
Mia Olenick, ASAT Extern
Reva Mathieu, EdD, BCBA-D, ASAT Media Corner Co-Coordinator
