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One mother's words of wisdom help those traveling with companions who have autism and other special psychological needs.

As the fastest growing developmental disorder, autism has become a mainstream topic of discussion among more than medical professionals.  Hollywood actress Jenny McCarthy has a best-selling book, Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, and the new movie, Adam, is about an adult man trying to navigate the world on his own, while dealing with the effects of Aspergers, a similar disease that falls under the autism spectrum.

With an average growth of over 10% in cases each year, autism is quickly becoming a fact of life for so many. For the parent of a child or close relative with autism, many questions come up each day, even more so when trying to plan a family vacation.

To help advise parents and families affected by autism, we interviewed Ilene, the mother of two boys (a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old with autism), who shared her experiences and advice on traveling with a child who has autism.

Her insight will assist you in planning a vacation for your family, ensuring that all members get the most out of the experience. Many of her thoughtful suggestions apply to parents traveling with kids afflicted by ADD, ADHD, mental health issues, and other psychological challenges as well. Her advice is also helpful to family planners who may be organizing a reunion or other large get-together that will include a relative with special needs.

If venturing out on your first family vacation with a child who has autism seems too daunting, keep in mind that there are also excellent, organized programs and camps for kids with a variety of special needs. Your family may want to select one for your child's first adventure away from home.

Additionally, we have included summer camps recognized by the Autism Partnership which focuses solely on helping children with autism; we think it's a worthwhile option for families who want to plan a rural break with expert care for kids with special needs.