planning your vacations according to your own preferences

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Dear friends,
My name is Hend Hassan. I am a researcher in the field of tourism and a mother of a lovely autistic child. This made me very interested in the autistic people matters and rights.
I am doing a research about how to help autistic people spend tourist vacations in the way that they would enjoy. I believe that every autistic person has the right to choose the tourist place where he wants to spend his vacation, where he wants to stay there, what places he wants to visit, what activities he wants to practice, what food he wants to eat and what things he want to avoid.
I need your help in this research to show everybody that every autistic person has the right to state his choices and these choices have to be respected.
In this research, I have designed a survey that includes some questions. These questions are supposed to be answered by the autistic tourist to help the travel company plan his tourism vacation according to what he likes. The survey also asks about some information that would help in providing the autistic tourist with all the services and assistance that he would need during his vacation.
Please , read the questions [/u]included in the survey attached below and tell me your opinion. Also write any suggestions that you think would be useful to make the survey better.
From your opinion and suggestions , I will try to write some tips or a strategy to show the travel companies how to plan vacations for autistic tourists according to the choices of each tourist and in the way that would satisfy him.
I assure you that your personal information will remain confidential.
I really appreciate your help in this research. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely yours’
Hend Hassan

[ b]The survey[/b]

- Name:------------------------------------------- - Age:-----------------------------

1- Have you ever travelled by airplane before?
Yes ( ) No ( )

2- Which of these places do you like to visit?
The beach ( ) Historical places ( ) Museums( ) Art galleries ( ) Aquariums ( ) Shopping areas ( ) Theme parks ( ) Natural sites ( ) Aqua-parks ( )

3- Do you like to do any of the following?
Riding horses ( ) Snow skiing ( ) Sand skiing ( ) Others (please state) ----------

4- Where do you prefer to stay during your vacation?
Big resort ( ) Small resort ( ) Hotel ( ) Motel ( ) Condo ( )

5- Do you like cruises?
Yes ( ) No ( )

6- How do you prefer to go from a place to another?
By car ( ) By bus ( )

7- Which of these actions please you?
Rocking ( ) Bouncing ( ) Swinging ( ) Playing with water ( ) Flicking objects ( ) Chewing things( ) Rubbing hands on textures( ) Walking on tip-toes( ) Flapping ( ) Being wrapped with heavy blanket ( ) Other things (please state) ------------------------

8- Which of these do you like doing?
Drawing ( ) Coloring ( ) Music ( ) Crafts ( ) Others (please state) --------

9- Which sport do you like to play?
--------------------------------------

10- Where do you prefer to eat during your vacation?
In a restaurant ( ) In your own hotel room ( )

11- Are you allergic to any of the following?
Nuts ( ) Milk ( ) Gluten ( ) Eggs ( )
Casein ( ) others (please state) -----------------------

12- How do you like your food to be?
Only puree ( ) Only solid ( ) Semi-solid ( )
Any form ( ) other form (please state) ------------------------------------

13- Which of these do you prefer doing?
Having your meals prepared by the hotel ( ) Preparing your meals in your room ( )

14- Can you talk?
Yes ( ) No ( )

15- Which of these help you understand more?
Sign language ( ) Real objects ( ) Photographs ( )
Written words ( ) Drawings ( ) Videos ( )

16- Which of these you can use?
Computers ( ) Tablets ( ) Cell phones ( ) Others (please state) ---------------

17- Have you ever used any of the following?
Ear plugs ( ) Head phones ( ) Sun glasses ( )

18- Which of these bother you?
Crowd ( ) Bright light ( ) High sound ( ) Strong smells ( ) Swinging ( )
High places ( ) Car rides ( ) Feeling some textures ( ) None ( )

19- If your answer is “None”, then which of these please you more?
Crowds ( ) Bright light ( ) High sound ( ) Strong smells ( ) Swinging ( ) High places ( ) Car rides ( ) Feeling some textures ( )

20- Do you have any of these?
Seizures ( ) Gastro-intestinal problems ( ) Others (please state) -----------------

21- What medications do you take?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

22- What are the doses of your medications?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23- Do you sleep a little or woke up in the middle of the night?
Yes ( ) No ( )

During my holidays and, if I were ever to have one, paid vacation from work, my preference would be to stay home and avoid other people. A vacation from other people sounds much more appealing than going to someplace crowded with tourists.

Whoever said "hell is other people" can be my spokesman any day.

Not sure I understand. So, based on the answers a hypothetical autistic person gives to this survey, some other people would take this person on a vacation planned out to suit him/her?

Or did I misunderstand?

yes exactly. Travel companies, who are responsible for planning trips to others, are supposed to present a questionnaire like the presented one here to the autistic person to ask him about everything that would help this company plan the vacation trip in the way that would suit the autistic person. So What do you think about the questions mentioned in this questionnaire model? are they suffiecent or you see it can be done better? please give me your opinion and suggestions.
Thank you so much

Hi Hend. I see that no-one has done your survey yet, so I'll humour you and have a go.

Name: Tequila (that's enough for you)
Age: 24

Q1: Have you ever travelled by airplane before?
A1: Yes, frequently.

Q2: Which of these places do you like to visit?
A2: Historical places, shopping areas, natural sites, brewpubs, wonderfully cultural cities.

Q3: Do you like to do any of the following?
A3: No. What do you think I am?!

Q4: Where do you prefer to stay during your vacation?
A4: A decent hotel or motel will do me, preferably with lots to do round and about. I don't like staying on purpose-built resorts and would never go on them.

Q5: Do you like cruises?
A5: I've never been on one, so I couldn't honestly tell you.

Q6: How do you prefer to go from a place to another?
A6: Car usually, though on some city breaks (or in Malta) I'll go on the bus instead as it's a lot easier to get around than relying on a car. I don't drive, by the way.

Q7: Which of these actions please you?
A7: None of the above.

Q8: Which of these do you like doing?
A8: Again, none of the above.

Q9: Which sport do you like to play?
A9: Drinking.

Q10: Where do you prefer to eat during your vacation?
A10: In a good restaurant, usually. Occasionally, though, I just can't be arsed (or I don't know of a good one that's open), so I'll pick something up from a supermarket and eat it in my hotel room.

Q11: Are you allergic to any of the following?
A11: None of the above.

Q12: How do you like your food to be?
A12: I don't mind, as long as it's chewable, or semi-solid. I don't like big thick steaks for example, as I can't eat them properly.

Q13: Which of these do you prefer doing?
A13: If I'm on bloody holiday, I consider it the hotel's job. That's what I pay them for.

Q14: Can you talk?
A14: Too bloody much, my mum says!

Q15: Which of these help you understand more?
A15: Get it written down is a good start.

Q16: Which of these you can use?
A16: All of them, but I've only got a Mac and a really crappy mobile phone.

Q17: Have you ever used any of the following?
A17: All three.

Q18: Which of these bother you?
A18: Crowds can be very disorienting and confusing, and it can make it difficult for me to work out where things are, especially when I'm in a strange place. Bright light doesn't really bother me any more than it would any other person. Noisy places definitely inhibit my ability to talk to others, and if it's too noisy I have to leave. I'm mostly not bothered by any of the others.

Q19: If your answer is “None”, then which of these please you more?
A19: Already partially answered that in A18.

Q20: Do you have any of these?
A20: No.

Q21 and Q22: What medications do you take? / What are the doses of these medications?
A21 and A22: Is that you, Dr.?

Q23: Do you sleep a little or woke up in the middle of the night?
A23: Yes, often.

Thank you so much. You haven't only provided me with very useful information, you made me very happy and laughed alot. Thank you for your help and your sense of humor. I really appreciate it

Thank you for all who replied to this topic to help me in my research. Some of them were more than generous to even answer the questions mentioned in the survey. To those who were not sure to reply, let me clarify myself. I only need you to read the questions and tell me your opinion: do you see these questions sufficient to give a travel company all the information it may need to be able to plan a tourist trip that suits your desires? if yes just say yes. if no please tell me your recommendation to make this survey better.
I really appreciate your cooperation. Thanks in advance

I hope you're not unhappy it's a little late, but I wanted to take the survey. Aggravting. Why didn't I realizied sooner?
I know it's kinda late, but I'll try it too.
Why
1: I've traveled by airplane (I hate cars- Ugh)
2: I love theme parks. As Long as I'm not forced to be there all day long
3: None here
4: big resort
5: Can't say. Never been on one.
6: Um. I perfer buses. Sometimes you can stand.
7: Spinning, Swining. Walking on tipoes.
8: Writing:
9: Basketball.
10: In my room:
11: I am currently on a GFCF diet. I don't eat many fruits, maybe some pinapple.
12: Soft- Solid (I love ice cream- although I would perfer Rice Dream)
13: Preapring Meals in my room.
14: I can talk.
15: Written Words. I watch Movies with Subtiles on so I can see the things that goes too fast.
16: Computers- Neo
17: Headphones.
18: Car rides
19: Swinging is comfortable (I know I answered Car Rides above, but Swinging is pleasing
20: I have some problems with my stommch.
21: I try not to take medication.
22: I sleep okay- Maybe even better on a trip cause I"m so tired. Sees

The survey is a little difficult to complete in this format. I would recommend using a service like Survey Monkey to host and present this.

- Name: Wycca - Age: 22

1- Have you ever traveled by airplane before?
A - no

2- Which of these places do you like to visit?
A-The beach, museums, aquariums, theme parks, natural sites

3- Do you like to do any of the following?
A- riding horses

4- Where do you prefer to stay during your vacation?
A- Small hotel or condo preferably somewhere quiet where I can make my room as dark as possible at night.

5- Do you like cruises?
A- never been on one

6- How do you prefer to go from a place to another?
A- I can't drive very well and get lost easy so preferably the bus

7- Which of these actions please you?
A- Rocking, Swinging, chewing things, walking on tip-toe, being wrapped in a heavy blanket.

8- Which of these do you like doing?
A- Drawing, coloring and crafts

9- Which sport do you like to play?
A- none

10- Where do you prefer to eat during your vacation?
A- In a restaurant if it's not to loud.

11- Are you allergic to any of the following?
A- I'll say none but to much gluten or casein messes with my stomach

12- How do you like your food to be?
A- any form but I don't eat anything like berries that have small seeds that get stuck in your teeth and you end up spitting out the rest of the day.

13- Which of these do you prefer doing?
A- having it prepared in the hotel

14- Can you talk?
A- Yes and no. Most of the time yes but if to stressed it gets really difficult to speak.

15- Which of these help you understand more?
A- written words or photographs

16- Which of these you can use?
A- all three

17- Have you ever used any of the following?
A- all three on a almost daily basis

18- Which of these bother you?
A- crowds, bright lights, high sounds, high places, and being on the upper floors of a building where you can feel the floor shifting and vibrating under your feet.

19- If your answer is “None”, then which of these please you more?
A- I'll skip this one since I answered the last one.

20- Do you have any of these?
A- none that I'm aware of.

21- What medications do you take?
A- none

22- What are the doses of your medications?
A- none

23- Do you sleep a little or woke up in the middle of the night?
A- Usually I stay awake to around 2-3 am when I can get away with it but if it's nice and quiet I can stay asleep very well.

Hello Hend
For me as European Aspie these questions are quite confusing.
Not to make fun of your questions but just to show you how I read them.
Here are my answers:
Name: 8bg, Netherlands, Europe. Age 37

Q1: 1- Have you ever travelled by airplane before?
A1: Before what? Before dawn? Before sunset, lunch, before I finished the dishes? Better question: 1- Have you ever travelled by airplane?
Answer is Yes.

Q2- Which of these places do you like to visit?
A2: I like quiet places. Musea, beaches before dawn or after sunset, theme parks a lot, though usually I can stand them for two hour max.

Q3- Do you like to do any of the following?
A3: None of these. Not sure which path you want to take with this question and given answers, my response would be: others, like performing the art of magic, juggling, baking pancakes for the whole neighbourhood and so on

Q4- Where do you prefer to stay during your vacation?
A4: Since I don'like crowded areas none of the mentioned

Q5- Do you like cruises?
A5: I have been on a boat for three hours. I felt terrible because of the knowledge I couldn't get off. This feeling prevented me from ever taking a cruise. Cannot answer this question.

Q6- How do you prefer to go from a place to another?
A6: Again this list is too limited. Busses are too crowded for me, cars are ok, bicycle is better, such is train, or just the old fashioned walkies.

Q7- Which of these actions please you?
A7: Being wrapped with heavy blanket. Definitely. You can wake me in the middle of my work time for it.

Q8- Which of these do you like doing?
A8: I do like doing music. Serious, isn't this question the same as 7 and 3?

Q9 - Which sport do you like to play?
A9: Mountain biking, swimming, juggling (one gets a great condition just by throwing balls in the air and picking them up off the ground on a regular base).

Q10- Where do you prefer to eat during your vacation?
A10: The list is too short. Restaurants are too crowded and I like the outdoors. Mostly I pick up food in a supermarket and find a bench in the park to eat my dinner.

Q11- Are you allergic to any of the following?
A11: Allergic to everything. This is good because since I cannot eat anything, on the other hand I can eat everything.

Q12- How do you like your food to be?
A12: Recognizable

Q13- Which of these do you prefer doing?
A13: Same as question 10 isn't it?

Q14- Can you talk?
A14: *nodding*

Q15- Which of these help you understand more?
A15: Written words. Definitely.

Q16- Which of these you can use?
A17: All of them

Q17- Have you ever used any of the following?
A17: What? I have been on local television as the guy who once used sun glasses. Seriously, EVERYONE has ever used these.

Q18- Which of these bother you?
A18: All of them. Except the None option.

Q19- If your answer is “None”, then which of these please you more?
A19: It wasn't None.

Q20 -21 -22: Some doctor stuff I don't want anything to do with.
A20 -21-22: Please advice my doctor.

Q23- Do you sleep a little or woke up in the middle of the night?
A23: Of all questions this is the most confusing. To start with the syntaxis is wrong. It starts with current time to switch in the middle of the sentence to the past. Besides that the question is asked as a choice between different situations, but for me they are very much look alike. But what really freaks me out is the time width of this question. Do I sleep a little last year? Last night? Last holidays? During performing my job?
Personally, I feel this kind of question creates the gaps between aspies and neurotypes. I like questions and commands to be clear, non multi-understandable. I cannot answer this question because I really don't understand it.

Good luck with your research.
8bg