Alex is a travel writer, blogger and photographer who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 6. He has visited more than 60 countries. Alex encourages people with autism and their families to travel confidently through his venture called Autistic Travel Planning & Consultancy Services where he helps families with trip planning and works with the hospitality industry to make services more accessible and inclusive for travelers.

What inspired you to start Autism Adventures Abroad? How do you usually choose your travel destinations?A: I was previously working as a freelance translator until COVID struck. I had always struggled greatly with employment and trying to find my footing on the career ladder, and the closest I got to a full time job after I graduated was a 6 month unpaid internship in America. I quickly realised that I wasn't suited to an office environment, and all of my hopes and dreams were shattered upon finding out that there were no sponsorship opportunities or career advancements available. I then made the not-so-difficult decision to call it quits and leave before the contract ended.
I then went solo traveling across the US, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and over to Australia where I had just been awarded a visa. It was the happiest I had been in a long time. Unfortunately, the Pandemic came along soon after and my whole world turned upside down.
I had a lot of time during lockdown to think about how to move forward, and how to leverage some kind of balance between work and happiness. Then it struck me randomly one day that there were no autistic adults within the tourism space that were actively using their voice to make a positive impact on the industry. That was where the idea for Autism Adventures Abroad initially came from.
Generally, I try to visit new places while picking destinations - though there are some of my favorites that I am always happy to go back to. I always look on Skyscanner to see what the cheapest available direct flights are from where I currently am, and usually take it from there.

What kind of issues do you face while visiting popular tourist places?A: Destinations where over tourism exists and overcrowded environments can prove a challenge. Despite living several years in Tokyo (arguably the biggest and one of the busiest cities in the world), I now feel like I am increasingly struggling with these factors more as time goes on, especially since the pandemic.
This can be a tough one to find the answer to, but usually prior research helps. Through this I can better understand when peak-seasons are, what the busiest areas and sites are, and other useful and relevant information. I usually combat this by opting for less popular destinations, or spending a short amount of time in a crowded destination. Similarly, sometimes just avoiding things can be the best solution.
For example, staying clear of busy bars and restaurants. Again some research will help you here, to find out what to avoid and what alternatives there might be. Google Maps also now has this very handy feature that allows you to see the busiest times at any business.

Can you tell us more about Autistic Travel Planning & Consultancy Services? Who can benefit from these services?A: I launched the consultancy arm of my platform last year, and it was really exciting as that was something I had been planning from the conception of Autism Adventures Abroad.
Basically, it's a two-fold service. One aspect is for tourism-related businesses and organizations, so that they can use my services to help guide them to incorporate and/or improve their accessibility and inclusivity plans to reach their fullest potential, enabling them to attract autistic visitors.
The other aspect is for autistic individuals (or their family etc.) who want any sort of advice or help with anything related to travel and autism.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?A: School, but especially high school, was some of the worst days of my life. It's a period I would never relive, even if you offered me a billion dollars. I regret not having the opportunity to be homeschooled, or to try schooling in the country I wanted to live in at the time. I don't have too much advice here, because it was a truly awful experience, coupled with the fact I was discouraged, unable, or even prohibited from studying any of my own special interests and desired subjects (I already had a very clear vision of where I wanted to go at that time).
Back then I didn't know the wider world existed as I hadn't traveled outside of family vacations, so it was extremely hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel or motivate myself, but what I will say is listen to your autistic child if they are in school and always make sure they are getting the support and encouragement they need to thrive. I think many of us are more suited to being in a private or homeschooled environment, though unfortunately that is not often an option for many of us.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?A: California by far. I've never experienced a region so diverse in landscapes and beauty. It has everything I could personally want out of life, and the Mediterranean coast on the south of the state feels like a warm fuzzy daydream. I still miss my days spent there, so I try to go back whenever possible.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?A: Be their advocate through thick and thin, sometimes it can be hard for your child to articulate their needs (a large proportion of the community are also nonspeaking) and having someone they can trust to have their back in the face of discrimination and exclusion will never go unforgotten.
Listen to what they have to say about their own needs, and make sure to do your own research on autism, and consult an autistic advocacy service if you are feeling lost on where to go or what to do for the best.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to explore new places?A: If travel is something that you want to engage in, then don't let being autistic hold you back from doing so. We all have our own unique traits and challenges, so it is important to understand yourself first and work out what barriers or triggers you may face while on a trip, then look at what you might do to overcome these - as well as what support, guidance, and accessibility implementations are currently available for you to take advantage of. If solo travel is not something you feel ready for or interested in doing, then travelling with a trusted individual (a friend, carer or family member for example) would be of great benefit to help transition you into travelling.

Are you using any AI tools or tech in your work or daily life? If so, how do they help you?"A: When Chat GPT first came out, I asked it a lot of questions that I found it hard to find the answers to online. The internet is an overwhelming place sometimes, and in the sea of pointless search results it can sometimes be hard to find what exactly it is you are looking for. I haven't used it much lately though, and I refuse to incorporate it into my writing, I want to keep my style as unique and personalized as I possibly can