Autistic Travel Voices #8: Matt

As many of you may be aware, there is very little in the way of travel-related information online which focuses on autistic adults, or has any input from the autistic travel community.

‘Autistic Travel Voices’ is an opportunity for others in the community to discuss topics surrounding their own travel journeys, and how their lived experience of traveling intersects with being autistic.

In this latest edition of ‘Autistic Travel Voices’ I got the opportunity to chat with Matt – a young solo traveler who hails from Texas, in the Southern USA. Matt has traveled extensively to date, and kindly shared some of his experiences for everyone below;

• Q1: Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers

My name is Matt. I am 27 years old and live in Dallas, Texas, USA. I am an autistic adult with a love of travel.

• Q2: Did you grow up traveling, or was it something you started to do when you became an adult?

I didn’t really start until I was 16 years old, and I’ve visited 10 countries since; Canada, Ecuador, Iceland, UK, China, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, El Salvador. I also have plans in 2024 to visit Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia and New Zealand.

• Q3: When was your first solo trip? Where did you go?

My first solo trip was in early 2016. I went to China with a school group. It was two weeks. I went to Shanghai and Beijing. It consisted of visits to historic sites, walking on the Great Wall, taking the world-class public transit and passenger rail, and shopping at malls.

• Q4: What have you learned about yourself as an autistic adult since traveling solo? 

I’ve learned that my love of knowledge acquisition is best explored hands-on in real time. I learn best about the world by observing various places in action.

• Q5: Can you think of any benefits of travel you have found on a personal level?

Yes! I have a much better understanding of the world and a much more open perspective. Travel changes the way you think, allowing you to think outside the bubble that is your home country. For example, taking the 300km/h bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing convinced me to become an advocate for better public transport in the car-addicted USA. I now think from a global perspective and not solely a US-centric one.

• Q6: What does accessibility in tourism mean to you?

Accessibility in tourism to me means understanding people in charge, from the airport to hotels to people I know who live in the places I visit.

• Q7: Do you currently have a top 5 bucketlist? If so, where to?

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, anywhere in Africa, and Tierra del Fuego are on my bucket list.

• Q8: Can you think of any specific ways in which you being autistic may be a benefit you during your travels? 

Yes! I come very well-prepared knowledge-wise and do the research prior to departure.

• Q9: Conversely, what challenges does being autistic present for you when you are traveling and what strategies do you use to cope with these challenges? 

By far the biggest challenge for me is the flying part, from the hell that is security at every US airport to the constant threat of flight delays. I survive by downloading videos to watch and carrying a notification card that mentions my autism.

• Q10: From your own experience, how accessible do you feel the tourism industry is for autistic travelers? 

Do you have any suggestions for improvement within the industry? I think it is relatively accessible, but there is a lot of variation within such a huge industry. My biggest suggestion is better training for people working in the industry to be more sensitive to the differences of autistic travelers, particularly autistic adults. Too often, only children are mentioned while us adults are ignored.

• Q11: Do you have any advice/tips to share with other autistic adults looking to travel solo? 

Yes, find affordable hotels, and do not stay in a hostel! For the Americans out there, contact TSA Cares for assistance in the hell that is US airport security. Bring noise-cancelling headphones on all flights.

• Q12: Do you have anything that you always pack on your travels (that others might not think of)? 

A neck pillow, an Anker power pack, a TSA disability notification card that can be printed on the agency’s website, protein bars, and toilet paper (too many public toilets lack toilet paper!).