Blogs Reports

Travel with Autism…


Reported by Laura

Published on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022

Mental Health Support and Relationships
Blogs Reports

Travel with Autism…


Written by Laura

Published on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022

Mental Health

Support and Relationships

Many people don’t know that travelling with autism can be stressful for the person, family and others.

To day, at the time of writing this report, I am trying to complete my first solo journey to London, Euston from Greater Manchester. The levels of stress I experience to ensure that I am on time and getting places on time is a big thing for me.   

If this journey goes well it could have the potential to make me think that travelling is not all that bad. Many years ago I could end up in tears when I found myself somewhere new and it got too much for me but I’m hoping that this journey today will end my fear of that happening again.  

 This journey is going to shatter my comfort zone but I’m facing it because I know that completing it will be the best thing for me in the long run.  I know that this is going to be the best thing  for me personally because I will know that I can travel long distances.

Autism has the power to effect people in many ways and it can stop people from growing to become who they wish to be,  When I got told that I was part of the autism community I just  saw the negative side of it and thought that it was a bad thing but since then, I’ve realised that it’s not that bad. In fact, in some ways I  see it now has a gift. A gift with which to test my self; a gift to show others that I can be me and move onwards and upwards regardless. 

Can people really understand what it is like having autism? I think not. It’s like panicking over the littlest things, working out the time of travel and knowing where and what to do so that you stop this panicking. When a bus is 10 seconds late you start thinking I’m not going to be at next location on time. Timings are so important for someone with autism, so think of that on a trip to some where, where you not been in over 20 years. Now add all the noise and business of built up urban areas.

Noise can be a big problem for people with autism. Knowing how to handle the noise is a big thing for me. For example I use music to block out as much noise as I can. People often ask me how I can  ride a motorbike with so much sound and things I  have no control over. Well for me it’s about the process of having to deal with what I am doing on my bike to negotiate the road and focus on keeping myself safe that stops me me from getting affected by the noise and chaos. 

I have one final piece of advice – Don’t let others stop you from doing what you want to do or get in the way of working towards being yourself. Don’t let anything stop you from being great. 

 

Written by Laura


Hi my name is Laura, I am a tour guide based in Manchester, educating people around issues people are facing with homelessness. I started this reporting to report on issues facing people who I know and meet, to say what is on their minds and for people to understand what's happening with others.

Read all of Laura's articles

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Mental Health Support and Relationships