When I saw this question I knew exactly who to contact. My friend Margalit Sturm Francus is a super-mom who’s traveled the world with her son who is on the autism spectrum, writing about it for her site www.autisticglobetrotting.com. She’s been everywhere and is the most kind and generous person you will meet – the complete package.
Here’s what Margalit said about visiting Yellowstone with autism:
Overall Yellowstone is such a fun place for kids, a great opportunity to see nature. Our sons enjoyed seeing Old Faithful, the wild life (bears and bisons) and the colorful pools. We stopped in a cafe (I think Lake Jenny) and had bison burgers. We also visited the Grand Teton Park and Jackson Hole on that trip.
- It is often rainy so you need a jacket/umbrella. My son hates to wear jackets /ponchos so plan ahead for what works best for your child is this is an issue.
- The ground is uneven and somewhat slippery when it rains so be aware of that.
- The pools have a phosphor smell, which can be an issue if a kid is smell sensitive.
In terms of accommodations, Jackson Hole can be a challenge since there aren’t really any big hotel chains there, or at least there weren’t any a couple of years ago. Hotels fill months in advance so if the trip is planned on short notice, it will be more about what one can still find rather than what one wants.
About Margalit Sturm Francus
Margalit Sturm Francus has lived in five different countries on three continents, where she exposed and educated her own children about the world through. In 2009, she established a nonprofit website, Autistic Globetrotting, to inspire and encourage autistic families to explore the world. Her articles have appeared in many media publications, including SATH, Autisable and Blogher. By communicating with both the autistic and travel communities, she aims to raise autism awareness and facilitate the implementation of much needed accommodations for special needs travelers.
