My Trip to the Kennedy Space Center

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This past summer, my family (my grandmother and all her children’s families) went to Florida for a week. We didn’t plan a lot to do, so I was worried about being bored and alone. One thing we did plan to do as a family was to visit the Kennedy Space Center, which I was excited about. I was also worried, though, since I didn’t want to have a meltdown around my entire family.

Something I was surprised to see on the brochure was a seal stating that the center was a Certified Autism Center. I didn’t quite know what that meant at the time but seeing that they had specific areas for autistic people to rest, a list of sensory experiences you may have before each attraction, and that staff was trained with autism sensitivity helped me feel safe. It was nice to know that they cared enough to go through all those steps since I had never seen that before.

Before we went on the bus tour, I could see the signs that went through each sense and what you might expect to experience. I wish I had been able to read through it, but my family was rushing along. Still, seeing that helped me feel better about going on the tour. It was very hot and humid that day, and I wasn’t wearing the proper shoes for walking, so I was uncomfortable already. Being able to go through that list would have helped me prepare for the experience and be able to enjoy it to the fullest.

If you are planning to go to the Kennedy Space Center, I recommend reading through the guide on their Accessibility Information page. It goes through the resources there are for autistic people, what to expect when going, and what each experience has to offer. Seeing it before my trip would have helped a lot. I’m grateful that places like this exist and can accommodate those with extra needs!

Kel

Kel (they/them) is in their late 20’s and didn’t learn of their autism until their second year of college. This helped them get the tools they needed to graduate on time, but also gave them a sense of community. A lot of their early life was given more context. Now, they work as a self-advocate, helping other people just like them. They like to play video games, board games, write, draw, act, and cosplay in their spare time. They also are fond of their family pets; three dogs and a cat.

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