Last month we packed up and left Texas for an adventure on the West Coast. I have an aunt and uncle who live in Orange County who offered to let us stay with them while we visited Disneyland Resort and other tourist attractions in the LA area. Fortunately for us, they live about 20 minutes away from Disneyland. We were very thankful to be welcomed into their home and probably wouldn't have been able to afford the trip otherwise. Needless to say, our “accommodations” were perfect; my aunt is on a gluten-free diet herself and was very careful when shopping and cooking with all of Ethan’s additional dietary restrictions in mind.
Speaking of dietary restrictions, Disneyland was also super accommodating. If you missed Kendra’s excellent post about dining with allergies in Disney World, it is a MUST READ! We had a very similar experience in Disneyland…the staff were accustomed to hearing the words “gluten free” and “special diet.” How refreshing!
Another bonus about visiting Disneyland is that they offer a “Guest Assistance Card” for individuals with disabilities.

During our recent trip out west, we spent 2 days at the LEGOLAND® California Amusement Park in Carlsbad (just north of San Diego). Several friends and even one of Ethan’s doctors have been encouraging us to take him for a couple of years now because they have seen how much he adores the little plastic building blocks and can create intricate sets and unique designs with ease. I must admit, they were right to encourage us to go! Ethan loved LEGOLAND® and we’re glad we went before he got any older.

During a recent trip to visit family in another state, Ethan and I encountered a critical, impatient and rude waitress. Surprisingly, the restaurant is a sweet little family-owned joint that we frequent during our trips to this state. It is a family-oriented restaurant (on the nicer side – with cloth napkins) and has an amazing gluten-free menu. The wait staff in the past has been tremendous and highly accommodating (even when we’ve visited with four busy, talkative kids and twice as many adults); but this time was different. This time, Ethan was the only child in the group.
First, before diving into the dining experience, let me preface it by sharing that our flight out of Dallas had been delayed by an hour due to a fire in the control tower just before we were scheduled to pull away from the gate and depart. Without a control tower, like the rest of the planes leaving at that time, we were stuck. And not just stuck…but stuck on a full flight (every single seat filled), buckled into our seats on an airplane that was growing ever hotter (in the June Texas heat) with every passing minute. To minimize the heat, everyone was asked to pull the window shades and wait patiently…um, okay.

I’ve just returned from an intense 5 days in Chicago at the Autism One 2011 conference. Let me just say: it was amazing. I learned so much in the tremendous sessions and connected with many of the phenomenal speakers. I can hardly wait to report on some new insights gained at A1 over the coming months. But today, I'm excited to share something that caught me by surprise; a blessing that blossomed at home in my absence…
Since we’ve worked so hard over the past four years utilizing special diets, biomedical interventions and traditional therapies to help Ethan heal and develop, he has made some excellent progress. Knowing that he’s in a good place made it easier to leave him for 5 days for a big event like A1. But, as Ethan’s primary caregiver, he and I spend a great deal of time together. We’re both accustomed to "our time" and he thrives on many of our set weekly routines. (Like most kids on the Autism Spectrum, Ethan relies on routines to feel safe and confident in his varied environments.) Ethan and my husband, Greg, have a very close relationship, but they just don’t get a bunch of one-on-one time without me around – especially for 5 days at a time.
While I was in Chicago, Greg worked to fill Ethan’s days with some pretty fun outings and events. They went bowling, played arcade games and spent an entire afternoon/evening with my in-laws. And, they attended a Texas Rangers game together on Friday night and had an outstanding time. When I called Saturday morning to check in, Greg shared a story that brought me to tears in Chicago (and then made me laugh out loud). I’ll paraphrase their conversation while driving home late at night:

It didn't take long before Luke and Sam caught on to the fact that our family loves new adventures. Whether it is hiking in the mountains, exploring a beach town, or finding the next perfect photography shoot location in our home town, we like exploring the new and the old. Olivia is quickly catching on and the boys love when she joins in the fun.

In addition to your coolers packed with snacks and drinks and bags with cuddy blankets, video games, DVD players and iPhones, bring along language learning and interactive activities to make the most out of your next road trip! So turn off the movie and Nintendo Ds and give your child what they want the most….you!