A taste for travel: Options for young adults
With borders now open, there are some great options for young adults who are keen to get out and start exploring. Supported travel groups provide many benefits including boosting people’s sense of self, independence and forming friendships with like-minded peers.
1.TRAVEL WITH TRAVENGERS
The team at Travengers assists young autistic people and those with hidden disabilities to travel around Australia in a supported and fun group environment. Catering for those aged 15-35, the trips include destinations like Byron Bay, Port Stephens and the Great Ocean Road. The tours are ideal for those who want to embrace new experiences, build their social network and gain independence, surrounded by an engaged and supportive team.
However, if you feel travel is a bit tricky at present, you can still satisfy the travel bug and make friends by joining Travengers’ Virtual Travel Group online. You’ll visit a new destination each week, learning about culture, activities and more through a fun and interactive space. Social in- person meet-ups are also held in Sydney. travengers.com.au insta-travengers.au
2.SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION
Short Term Accommodations, also known as STAs – are a perfect introduction to travel. An STA is usually a minimum of 1-3 nights within a shared space, such as an apartment, with a group of other young people, all with the assistance of caring support workers.
An STA adventure could be a great first step to explore a new place, as many STAs are local to the area in which you live. STA options also give you the time to enjoy a break from routine at a different location and work on independent living skills.
EVERYBODY NEEDS A BREAK SOMETIMES! Short-Term Accommodation (STA) is a way of providing respite care that allows both you and your carer to have a break or a change of scenery.
• Residential respite is now called ‘Short-Term Accommodation and Assistance’ under the NDIS.
• The amount of STA funding you can receive depends on the level of support required.
3.BLINDSQUARE – VISUAL IMPAIRMENT TRAVEL APP
Researching accessible travel within Australia is becoming easier thanks to a variety of sites dedicated to keen travellers.
BlindSquare has been developed to assist people who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted. It is the world’s most widely used accessible GPS-app, paired with third-party navigation apps.
BlindSquare’s self-voicing app delivers detailed points of interest and intersections for safe and reliable travel, in a variety of languages. blindsquare.com
We might live in one of the world’s driest climates, however that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the thrill of ice skating. There are some fantastic options around the country with a range of adaptive equipment, catering to the diverse needs of our children.
