Autism friendly holidays in Portugal for families with
Children on the neurodiversity spectrum.
Caring Inclusively for Children with Attention Deficit and Autism
Cicada Holidays
Colin until 2021 was a teacher and Helen is a teaching assistant (until 2022) in an outsatnding special school in Cheshire (OFSTED rated). Colin has been a teacher for 30 years, 10 years as a secondary Maths teacher and then the last 20 years working in special education, Colin now works full tme for Cicada Holidays. Helen has had several roles in schools and has been a teaching assistant for the last 18 years of her career and as you will discover, her energy and enthusiasm when working with children is the main reason your children will have a fantastic holiday. Which of course means you will too!
In our time in special education we have worked with all sorts of learning difficulties, medical conditions, disabilty and neurodiversity. Between us there can be very few needs we have not worked with, over the years. Our experience working with children in an SEND setting means we have a huge wealth of knowledge, which you can use to help you have a fantastics holiday. We can offer an understanding and experience of working with children with autism, ADHD, PDA, Downs syndrome, Prada Willi, SPD, Dravet syndrome, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, PMLD, hearing impaired, visually impaired, epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis, aquired brain injury and a few others.
What is more, both Colin and Helen are up to date with how to best safeguard children, we are familiar with risk assessment and procedures. So you can be confident we will look after you and your family to the best of our ability. Helen has also worked in the residential facility within schools which gives an added layer of undestanding of the needs and methods to keep children safe.
This is on top of the many years of training between us in PECS, BSL, Makaton, sensory processing, ADHD, autism, behaviour management and art therapy.
What we do.......
Planning
Planning is the key to a successful holiday when you are travelling with young people with additional needs.
Firstly, when you think you might like to go on holiday with us, you contact us and let us know. We will then arrange no obligation "meeting" with you and your children and between us we will decide how we can help you. This could be using one of the many online virtual methods available. You will be given lots of information including; some prices, dates, available activities, accommodation layout, the inevitable terms and conditions and then given time to think.
Next, when you have decided that Cicada Holidays is for you and you know what you want, we have a second meeting. At this meeting we will put together a detailed itinerary for holiday, sort out dietary needs, any special requirements, accommodation needs and finalise the costs. If you are happy then this is the point where we will help you book your flights. That's it! You are going on holiday with Cicada Holidays and you can start to get a bit excited!
Finally, we will provide materials such as visual timetables and social stories to prepare your child for their holiday. If necessary we can arrange further meetings with the children to build some trust and familiarity. We will keep in regular contact with updates of your holiday plans.
Child Supervision
To maximise the safety of guests when on holiday with us we ask that all children are supervised at all times. Since this is the point of Cicada Holidays, we are happy to assist in this task when required. We just ask that as adults we work together to make sure we all know who is in charge at all times.
Medical Needs
Cicada Holidays are happy to help out with medical needs as instructed by you. We also have knowledge of the local medical services in our area, should the need arise.
Food and Drink
We would like our guests to feel at home and so you have free access to all food and drinks that are in the house. Help yourselves! We can secure food away too, if that's what you need.
Colin and Helen are happy to prepare food and drinks and we are both trained in food hygiene practices. However, if you feel the need to prepare food for yourselves we are happy to assist in that too. If you have any particular food requirements we can accommodate those, just let us know at the planning stage.
Alcohol
Beer and wine should usually be available; there may even be some spirits around, unless you request otherwise. In any case either Colin or Helen will remain "on duty" at all times when guests are relaxing with a drink.
Toilets, Toileting and Personal Care
The house has a shower room with a toilet and a wash basin. We would always encourage children to be independent when using these facilities. However, if necessary we are happy to assist children with their personal care, as appropriate.
Travel
If required either Colin and/or Helen can travel with the family to the airport and help to get through the airport and then on the aircraft too. This could be one way or both ways if necessary. We can arrange suitable transport when you land at your destination (either Porto or Lisbon) and on to our property near Ferreira Do Zezere in central Portugal. We will drive you around to all your chosen activities and be your personal tour guide and taxi service for your entire holiday. What you get is dependent on your need and budget.
Risk Assessment
We have risk assessed many venues and activities and these will be available for guests to see.
Insurance
You will be responsible for arranging your own holiday insurance which should cover any possible medical needs and include cover for any agreed activities.
Cicada Holidays does all it can to carefully risk assess all activities and to keep all holiday makers safe. However, in case of the unexpected we do have extensive third party liability insurance.
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