feature story / 31 Vacations for all Travel professional helps families with autistic members find the right getaway BY ELLEN DONKER Joe Zavesky, a Certified Austism Travel Professional for AAA in West Caldwell, helps families make travel plans that fit their unique needs. O ne of the most cher- ished ways a family can build memories is by tak- ing vacations together. Determining when and where to travel are usu- ally the biggest hurdles. Yet for families with a member on the autistic spectrum the idea of a vacation can be daunting, producing overwhelming stress. Many abandon the idea completely. Joe Zavesky, a lifelong Maple- wood resident, is out to change that. As a travel counselor for AAA in West Caldwell, he recently became the first in New Jersey at his company to be- come a Certified Autism Travel Pro- fessional. “I decided to become cer- tified when I read the research,” he says. “Eighty percent of families with someone on the autism spectrum do not travel as a family, but 90 percent of them would if they knew that there are options available to take care of travel- ers with special needs.” Much of the course provided in- sight on the symptoms and sensitivi- ties that autistic travelers experience. These can include language impair- ment, mood and anxiety disorders and difficulty handling crowds, bright lights and loud noises. According to Zavesky, “Sensitivities can vary but in- stead of sending a family to a crowded, energy-packed destination, I might suggest a cruise or a resort with spe- cially-trained counselors.” Since he gained his certification, Za- vesky has been gathering resources that are autism-friendly through research, word of mouth, and trade shows. They can range from hotels or resorts that accommodate particular food needs, have counselors who have received autism-sensitivity training, or maintain dedicated phone numbers for special requests. Beaches Resorts, he says, be- came the first hospitality company to be welcomed to the family of Certified Autism Centers following staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness train- ing within each of its three Kids Camp facilities. Since then, other destinations have followed suit, with more to come. Interestingly, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with Wings for Autism since 2011 to help autistic individuals an- ticipate their experience in the airport. Families can get a realistic practice run through the processes of obtaining a boarding pass, going through security, boarding a plane, taxiing, deplaning and leaving the airport. For Zavesky, it simply boils down to giving more people the chance not only to dream of a vacation but to fi- nally take one that they truly deserve. He wants families to say, “Why not us? Why not now?” Ellen Donker believes in the magic that can happen when families vacation together.