The Journey Business Is Waking As much as the Wants of Neurodivergent Adults

For many Americans Make vacation plans is pretty simple and doesn’t require a lot of thought other than figuring out where and when to go. But for millions of neurodivergent travelers across the country, traveling is far from easy.

Neurodivergence encompasses a multitude of atypical developmental norms, many of which can be undiagnosed for years. Autism, Tourettes, Dyslexia, and ADHD are some of the most common sub-categories, although there are many people who identify under this umbrella term.

Neurodivergent adults add up to more than 30 percent of the world’s population, up to 40 percent in generous estimates. Many of these adults experience physical or psychological barriers while traveling or under unfamiliar circumstances, such as

As neurodivergence is better understood by the general public, new travel options for affected children and their parents. Unfortunately, the same is less true of neurodivergent adults. There are thousands of resources online discussing vacation destinations for neurodivergent families, but few for single adult travelers.

Neurodivergent adults need more Accessibility in their overnight accommodations. Lucy Healy, an architect with experience working on projects that address disabilities and functional needs, notes that many modern buildings lack the accessibility that so many adults require. “The child with autism becomes a teenager and eventually an adult with autism whose ability to function in the world is acutely affected by buildings that do not take their needs into account,” she says.

According to the neurodivergent traveler Tabitha, who asked for a pseudonym to protect her privacy, a vacation with special considerations is extremely difficult. “What most people call ‘introverted’ is what I call ‘non-overstimulating,’” she says. “[Pre-COVID], they were all stacked on top of each other, and as an anxiety patient, it was incredibly difficult for me to relax. “

Neurodivergence can severely restrict how and when vacation is taken. However, there are some resorts and destinations that are starting to take a stand, encouraging and empowering neurodivergent adults to enjoy some well-deserved R&R.

The movement started with Accomable, a startup focused on finding inclusive travel rentals for neurodivergent adults and beyond. Founded by Disabled travelers In 2015, the startup was looking for accommodations to meet many types of needs, with features from wider doors and entryways to handicapped showers and quieter bedrooms.

“We’re trying to create the same experience for a disabled person who books trips as a normal person,” says co-founder Srin Madipalli. “I want our users to have a wide variety of real choices and be able to create any type of travel experience they want, regardless of their background or physical ability.”

Accomable was bought by AirBnB in 2017, which continues to work for Make travel accessible. For neurodivergent travelers, this is a huge step in the right direction.

Tabitha believes that finding the right vacation rental starts with control. “It’s very calming and relaxing to be in control of my interactions with the world around me,” she says. “Basically, if I go anywhere, I better stay home.”