If you can cope with no facilities (ie - you have your own toilet, etc), join the C&CC and try local DA or Section meets. Make sure the stewards know you are new, talk to your 'neighbours', and explain any difficulties you have with your son, along with your 'coping strategies'. I'm sure you will find people supportive and helpful - you might even find that there are children your son can play with, even if it's only for a short time - it's amazing how they can find ways to get along, especially in the relaxed, open atmosphere of a camp-site. Once you find a group you like, get away with them as often as you can - you and your son will benefit from all those extra helpers. Have a great time.
Hi, I have a son who is now 20 and has autism, we have taken him away to countless sites over the last 20 years. The main reason we got into camping was our son, who found it extremely difficult to go on holiday in hotels, large crowded places or not have all his familair things with him. Hence why we have either owned a motorhome, static or touring caravan for the last 20 years.
We have travelled all over europe with him and I can say we have never really had any problems, and believe me especially when he was younger that were some massive trantrums and dramas with him. But I am of the opinion that no matter where you are or what you do he is never going to change so we just suck it up and get on with it. If people around us are not happy then tough, he has just as much right to be there as them. Luckily now at the age of 20 he has calmed down alot in his behaviour and is absolutely obsessed with fishing, luckily so is OH so anywhere with a fishing lake we usuallly know we are in for a great weekend or holiday.
I think learning to calm down about the situation comes with time and we have meet some lovely people in the last 20 years who have been fantastic with our son when we have been on camp sites. Just go and enjoy yourself the more you do it the less stressing it will become.
Hope I have not rabbitted on too much, I am sometimes like on of those little bunnies, wind me and off I go!!!!!
Welcome to the forum - nice to see another Northerner on the board!! Where abouts in North Yorkshire are you?
One of my favourite sites is Cote Ghyll in Osmotherley (near Northallerton) Very friendly owners/wardens, spacious pitches (EHU and non EHU), small play park and stream running through the site, excellent toilet/shower facilities, family bathroom, lovely walk into the village which has a small store, 3 pubs and a chippy, beautiful walks round Cod Beck Reservoir and the Sheep Wash. Northallerton is an easy 10 minute drive for supermarkets, shops and leisure centre and the coast is within an hour's drive (Whitby, Scarborough)
------------- Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Our son is also 20 and has autism and we have been camping since he was 5.
As long as you ask for somewhere quiet and get chatty to your neighbours you should be fine. I know youre going to be on edge most of the time, but make sure you get to relax a bit too.
We used to 'corral' ourselves in with windbreaks and make sure that we had all his little 'things' to keep him occupied. And a good supply of new things in case he got bored.
Nowadays as long as there are games shops and a ehu we're fine!
You'll be surprised how popular camping is with autistics kids!
Now my problems are keeping two toddlers quiet at 5 am when they wake up
We're east coast. Thanks for advice-will try that. This is our 1st weekend of the season. Starting off at Wolds Way, Malton, building up to next weekend at Park Foot, Ullswater.
My son loves the whole 'setting up' of the indoor/outdoor equipment.
We love the whole experience, although. Dalby and Ebberston are firm favourites for us.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: DISABILITY FRIENDLY
