Wow...check this out.

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This is from the University of Pittsburgh's autism research study website.

Scroll all the way through and you'll see what i'm "wowing" about.

I am participating in this study in September and i'm a non-local participant.

This is travel info for out-of-town participants. I don't think most people with autistic spectrum disorders need to be spoonfed in this infantile manner. I guess things like this are necessary for some participants...but wow. The things that organizations of all kinds have to go through in this society to avoid a lawsuit.


http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/research/CeFAR ... ToPitt.pdf

Watch out you don't fall off the shuttle.

I think it may be very helpful for some people and it looks like they've put a bit of thought and effort into it. Some people do like to have a detailed step-by-step guide to what they will have to do and providing pictures as well is good as people will know if they are in the right place or not, and know what to anticipate.

I suppose this is what makes it so difficult to provide accommodations and help for people on the Spectrum - what is helpful for some is of no use to others, who may find it patronising. I don't think they're trying to avoid a lawsuit. I think they're doing their best to provide a good experience for people.

I like it. I would like that kind of forward information for all travel - I would have liked that kind of pictorial guide when I went to Disneyland, with pictures of the hotel courtesy bus. I suffered so much stress that had no value because the hotel-to-site shuttle was actually so easy, bit I can't stand the unknown.

I once went to India and had an itinerary that had "You will be collected from your hotel by Mr Rajah at 7:30 am in a Blue Ambassador registration number ..." and so on for all 21 days of the stay. It was so stress-free in comparison to other trips.

You know, actually, I think that would be very helpful. I wish I had these kind of instructions for some of the things I have to do, like taking a bus trip or buying a new mattress. I don't like the "social stories" language (it sounds patronizing and I don't like them predicting what I will do; I'd prefer advice on how to do things instead), and I'd like more information about where things are--a map would be great, for example. I don't like unfamiliar situations and I really appreciate being given instructions before I have to get into them.

The way it's written does seem childish and patronizing, but the concept is very good. I would love to have detailed, step-by-step instructions whenever I go anywhere. Ideally, they would be even more informative and specific than this. Exactly where is this shuttle? What if I need to go to the bathroom at the airport? What if the flight's delayed? Where's the hotel elevator? What kind of shampoo does the hotel have? (I'm always an anxious wreck when I travel, and I drive whoever I'm with crazy.)

I understand your wowing, Horus. At the same time, I wish I could have something like this when I travel. I get so upset and anxious and shakey and it's all the little stuff. It's hard to describe, but this would make me feel a lot better. I might be going to Germany this year so maybe I'll see if I can get my sister to send me pictures of what to expect there.....and then make her put captions....hehehehe

Seriously, though. I think it's a pretty thoughtful presentation.

The stuff they show is all stuff I can pretty much deal with, although it is kind of nice to have the pictures to provide a visual reference. But what has kept me from flying for the past 15+ years is having to deal with airport security. I think the site would be much more useful if they showed the steps of dealing with getting the airplane ticket and going through security with all its degrading aspects so a person would at least know what to expect.

Yeah, the biggest problem I see is just not enough detail, too much assumption that you can do all the steps in between. (Also it'd be nice if they made versions for people who are blind, wheelchair users, etc. unless such things make you ineligible for the study.)

Very true. I was asking my son about whether his clothes were comfortable and he got so irritated. "Mom, why do you think I'm so sensitive?!" he yelled. Um... maybe because we have to carry your jersey sheets along when we travel or you can't sleep?

I'm not eligible for the study due to having type I diabetes (who knew that would show up on brain scans, eh? Ridiculous), but I wish they'd had directions like that for the Pitt study I AM in. I wish I had a Social Story for the wedding I'm going to this weekend, or moving into my new apartment, or lots of things. I don't really find it patronizing... just simple language and written in first person, as a Social Story should be, by definition.

it is pretty thoughtful.

i would like to be spoonfed when traveling in a slightly different manner. someday there will be inter-airport hovercrafts that will swoop me with eyes closed and headphones on from seat in plane to baggage claim which is abandoned but for my suitcase. then directly into hotel room. etc.

I agree with the comments about liking it.

The language is a bit 1st grade, but it's also unambiguous. And the pictures seem like a great idea. You can spot things without being close enough (or un-discombobulated/distracted enough) to read the text. I can barely read the name even in the picture, but I could spot that van by the paint job really easily. (I hate waiting for shuttles where 6 different companies/hotels use one spot and I need to quickly identify the correct van by reading the name (with a crowd of people in my way).)

And also to lessen the unfamiliarity factor. As a kid I used to imagine what a place would look like before I was there. But of course it would look totally different IRL, which would drive me a little nuts. Eventually, I made myself stop doing the pre-visualization, but having pictures would be even better than that.

If I could find something like this for traveling to London, which is my dream, I would be so thrilled.

You can often get images of destinations on Google Street Views. I find these quite useful, though of course there are no images of the building's interior.

Suffice it to say I agree with everything most of you have said and there's rarely a need to preach to the choir. I apologize if I didn't make my thoughts about all this clear in my OP. I was just a bit taken aback by what seems like "Juvenilia" instructions to me.

I think this illustrates how different we all are even if we share the same diagnostic labels. For example, I wouldn't even require such instructions when I was six years old. Some adults with autistic spectrum disorders would require them. Many of these same adults can solve calculus equations in their sleep whereas I couldn't even pass introductory algebra.