Summer is that magical time when the kids are out of
school, the days are more relaxed and there are often opportunities to take a
special family vacation. But for families with children who have less obvious
disabilities -- a mental health or emotional or behavioral disorder, for
example -- a trip can spell disaster, particularly if there is an airport
involved.
Jade's 7-year-old son Anthony has autism, and he functions
best when there is plenty of structure built into his day. During the school
year, the regular routine makes things easier, but unstructured time during the
summer is always challenging for Anthony.
Last July, Jade decided to go to Colorado to visit her
sister. Even though Anthony was excited to see his cousins, Jade knew it could
be a challenging situation. She did her best to prepare him for the journey and
packed a few of his favorite foods and toys in her carry-on bag. They arrived
at the airport early and made it through security without a hitch, but when
they reached the crowded gate area, Jade could see her son was struggling to
stay calm.
At first glance, it's difficult to imagine that this little
blonde-haired boy with the deep blue eyes could be anything other than angelic.
While Anthony does display certain tell-tale signs of autism -- the way he
flexes his hands awkwardly when excited, the rigid posture, the darting eyes
that never quite look at you -- in a crowd, he looks quite "normal."
The other passengers waiting for the flight to Denver had no idea that Anthony
could erupt at a moment's notice.
To read more on this story, click here: When Your Child Hasan Invisible Disability
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