Just under 20% of Americans self-identify as neurodivergent. That means approximately 1 in 5 travel customers have specific needs that have been unmet for years. Fortunately, the industry is starting to catch up.
The terms “neurodivergent” and “neurodiverse” describe people whose thoughts, reactions to stimuli, and learning styles are not what is traditionally classified as “normal.” This may include, but is not limited to Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism spectrum disorder (formerly Asperger’s syndrome), Bipolar disorder, DiGeorge syndrome, Down syndrome, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, or Dyspraxia, Intellectual disabilities, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Prader-Willi syndrome, Sensory processing disorders, Social anxiety disorder, Tourette syndrome, Williams syndrome.
Your next would-be customer could fall into this category, which means they have some specific needs that they would love for you to help them with.
… Because, as we will explore, the big travel sites aren’t currently helping them at all.
The Challenges Facing Neurodivergent and Neurodiverse Travellers
Traveling can be stressful for anyone, and if you have hypersensitivity to certain things, the volume of the stress dial can be turned up to 11. Many neurodivergent and neurodiverse people may not even feel like a relaxing getaway is even possible. To them, getting there is not half the fun– It’s 110% stress.
Some of the most common issues they face include:
- The sights, sounds, and overall busyness of airports and train stations
- The “Go! Go! Go!” nature of many travel itineraries to make connecting flights
- Feeling trapped in large crowds
- Too much light or intrusive sights, sounds, and smells in their hotel room
For years, neurodivergent and neurodiverse people simply had to deal with these issues as best they could, and too many of these people didn’t even try to travel because of them.
Traveling With Neurodivergent and Neurodiverse Children
Parents with neurodivergent or neurodiverse children obviously want their kids to be able to experience Disneyland or the Grand Canyon, but they don’t want to give them a sensory overload or put them in situations that may overwhelm them. And they need your help to do that.
That’s why a recent study showed that 46% of surveyed adults traveling with neurodiverse children said they will rely on travel agents to make their purchase decisions.
That same report revealed that:
- 75% of respondents said the potential crowds at a destination influence their purchase decision
- 65% will travel in their personal vehicle instead of air or train, for various reasons
- 64% plan to stay in a traditional chain hotel
- 68% find online photos of specific rooms very/extremely important to make their choice
The travel bookers and travel agents that understand these challenges are the ones that these parents will choose, and choose again for their next trip.
Traveling for Neurodivergent and Neurodiverse Adults
Hotels and resorts started making accommodations for neurodivergent and neurodiverse children a few years ago. However, the travel industry appears to have only recently started realizing that neurodiverse adults often travel alone.
These adults typically have employers that have made accommodations to help them. However, they struggle to find the same level of consideration when trying to take a vacation from that job, which can be incredibly frustrating.
Accomable, a startup founded in 2015, was founded with the mission to make travel accessible for people with all types of disabilities. This may include wider doorways and accessible showers for people with physical disabilities, or stimuli-control spaces for neurodivergent people. Accomable was actually purchased by Airbnb in 2017, as the company announced that, “The Accomable site will be wound down over the coming months, and we will work to include Accomable’s listings in more than 60 countries on Airbnb.”
However, if a would-be neurodivergent traveler goes into the Airbnb filters and selects Accessibility features, they can find accommodations for physical challenges such as:
- Step-free guest entrance
- Disabled parking spot
- Accessible bathrooms
But sadly, there are no filters like “Low noise” or “scent-controlled cleaning products” that would be important to the neurodivergent traveler.
Meanwhile, Hotels.com doesn’t offer any filters or means of looking for accessibility rooms beyond noting that an individual room has an accessible bathtub or ramp, with nothing for neurodivergent travelers.
At the same time, despite announcing neurodivergent travel as one of the top travel trends in 2025, and writing a blog about the topic in 2023, Booking.com also doesn’t offer any accessibility filters in their interface.
This is why these travelers need to rely on travel agents and travel bookers to get curated experiences that can legitimately help them relax and feel at home.
The Emerging Market
As we said, more and more options are slowly becoming available for both neurodivergent families and individuals.
For example, there are now two organizations issuing autism-certification distinctions to various resorts and experiences:
- International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)
- Autism Double-Checked
They’re doing their part to help families and individuals find suitable travel options, pre-approved by previous neurodivergent travelers.
Some of the options they have given the seal of approval to include:
- Beaches Turks & Caicos
- JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
- Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
- All Legoland Resorts
- Great Wolf Lodge (23 US locations)
- Karisma Hotels and Resorts (Mexico)
- Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla (Jordan)
- Autism on the Seas
And of course, Disney believes that no child should miss out on the opportunity to meet their favorite character at Disneyland. They have taken several steps forward over the years to make sure that they can provide a dream-come-true experience for all children.
How to Capture This Market
As we mentioned earlier, the modern neurodivergent traveler is currently being somewhat let down by big booking sites like Hotels.com, Booking.com, and Airbnb. This means that they need you, the hardworking travel agent or travel booker!
If you want to become a valuable resource for these travelers, you can begin by familiarizing yourself with the resorts and experiences listed in the previous section. They give you a nice mix of child-friendly experiences and stunning resorts for adult getaways.
You can also take things a step further by contacting the IBCCES to become a Certified Autism Travel Professional™. This gives you a professional distinction that shows your would-be customers that you care and you’re qualified to truly help them, as well as gives you a listing in the IBCCES directory.
If you want to become a certified and listed Austism Double-Checked Travel Advisor, scroll to the bottom of this page and send them a message to start the process.
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