I am traveling to volunteer with children on an Autism on the Seas trip in May! I am so excited to help make a difference and meet some awesome kiddos! I love helping support the kiddos experiencing new exciting things in carefully regulated way to help them succeed!
Help me to help families with high needs, incredible, autistic individuals have an actual vacation, that they would regularly not be able to have without the assistance of a professional like myself and the accommodations through the non-profit organization Autism on the Seas. Every day individuals and families live with the direct effects of autism. The challenges in new environments can be great and a vacation without assistance would likely not be relaxing and attainable without accommodation. This is where I come in as a trained volunteer for Autism on the Seas.
As a volunteer with Autism on the Seas I provide constant support to families with boarding and disembarking the ship, throughout every single meal, pool time, trying new experiences like water slides, bumper cars, and zip lining, and numerous group activities. We help with sensory regulation including with private created areas for high and low sensory input, such as trampolines, ball pits, or relaxing dark tents in the respite areas.
We provide 2-4+ hours of daily complete respite (allowing parents to go take care of themselves for once!) taking complete care of the children for the families, as well as off the ship excursion assistance. As volunteers, we start every day working at 8am or earlier and end at 10pm.
I have a background in caring for those with developmental disabilities in working with them as a trained behavior tech for 3 and 1/2 years at an inpatient hospital, and I can't wait to help these individuals and families have an incredible time on their trip.
This volunteer effort is mainly funded by Autism on the Seas, but we have some expenses that are out-of-pocket. We have to arrive at the port the day before the sailing, buy a hotel for the night and meals, as well as some on board expenses and travel home, not to mention loss of professional work hours.
Any help with my out of pocket expenses would be greatly appreciated. All donations are tax deductible.
Autism on the Seas (AotS) is an organization that allows families to experience a vacation, that at one time would have been impossible to imagine. AotS arranges specific special needs accommodations with the cruise lines including assisting with expedited port check-in, meal assistance, pool time supervision, beach excursions, respite for guests with special needs to be well cared for (while the rest of the family can do other things and get a very deserving break), as well as many other perks and assistance. You can learn more here: www.AutismontheSeas.com
