Student Help Abroad Cruise

Planning a vacation can be a daunting task for any family. Autism on the Seas is an organization that helps make vacations accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for all families.

According to its website, the international organization Autism on the Seasworks with Royal Caribbean International to offer cruise vacation services to accommodate adults and families living with Autism, and all cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Dr. Janet Bertoni, chair of the special education department at Millersville, has been supporting the organization since 2018. This year, four special education majors - Kevin Brooks, Tanya Tregea, Christine Juliano and Morgan Rocap - joined in on the magic as interns.

The team set sail for a five-day trip to St. John New Brunswick in Canada. Millersville student interns assisted families during meal times and activities, working closely to understand and support each child's unique needs. Students worked closely with families, allowing them hands-on experience and parents to have some free time during daily respite time. During the evening, the interns went off duty to engage themselves in game shows, karaoke, and many more activities that the ship had to offer.

"This experience really opened up my eyes to the world of working with people with autism and how I can support them with life skills," shares Brooks. "In school, we learn how to support them in the classroom, but on this trip, we learned how to support them on a cruise ship."

Bertoni emphasizes the importance of these experiences. "Student interns learn more from their first day on these trips about exceptionality in the real world than they do in any classroom or field experience. Student interns have the opportunity to learn about what everyday activities are like for those families with exceptional guests," she shares.

Learn more about Autism of the Seas here.