Explore This Blog
This guide is structured to help you navigate the key insights on neurodiversity and travel. Click on the sections below to dive straight into the topics that interest you most:
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how our brains function and how we behave, and includes conditions like Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia. Although up to 20% of the population have some form of neurodivergence, employers have historically overlooked its value in the workplace. But a promising change is in the works. Today, more and more organisations are seeing neuroinclusion as a key driver of success. The ‘diversity of thought’ approach is gaining traction, highlighting the competitive advantages of neuroinclusivity, such as, enhanced creativity, increased innovation, and improved employee engagement.
Given this shift, it’s important now, more than ever, for accommodation providers to meet the needs of neurodiverse business travellers, who are making up more of the business traveller demographic.
However, neurodiversity is often referred to as an “invisible disability”, making the unique functional needs it brings hard to recognise, and consequently to address. It is vital that accommodation providers keep their ears to the ground to ensure they are equipped with the right resources and ready to respond.
To delve a little deeper and reflect on this issue ourselves, we surveyed neurodiverse SilverDoorians on their travel experiences. Many expressed that travelling can be overstimulating and exhausting. One colleague shared, “Busy environments like airports and stations can be overstimulating and exhausting; sometimes it ruins the experience” Another noted, “If things change, it makes me anxious.” Highlighting how unexpected disruptions can significantly impact their journey experience.
Travelling is unnerving for anyone, but the apprehension it brings can be especially complex for neurodiverse individuals. Parts of a journey that would typically not be given a second thought can become significant points of stress that can have a knock-on effect.
So, what specific challenges do neurodiverse individuals face when travelling? Let’s dive in:
Sensory overload: Leading to heightened stress and exhaustion
Sensory overload occurs when the senses perceive more than our brains have capacity for and can happen to anyone but is especially common among the neurodiverse. When paired with an overbearing travel environment, featuring hundreds of environmental stimuli, the result is often a feeling of overwhelm and anxiety, which can discourage neurodiverse travel.
"The memories are rewarding, but sometimes the experience can feel overstimulating and exhausting.” - SilverDoor Employee
Many of our neurodiverse SilverDoorians expressed how overwhelming the check-in process, specifically, can be. Not only will individuals have just navigated a long journey and entered a completely new environment, they then face the challenge of locating their new accommodation while trying to absorb length paragraphs of complex check-in instructions.
Disrupted routine: Feeling disoriented away from familiar structure
Routines are vital for neurodiverse individuals, serving as familiar touchpoints for navigating daily life. While travel disrupts routines for everyone, for the neurodiverse, this disruptions can threaten structure and security, leading to anxiety and perceived loss of control.
Social interactions – miscommunications in travel scenarios
Many neurodiverse individuals find difficulty in manoeuvring social interactions. Paired with a stressful travel environment where information is thrown around seemingly from every which way, it can be easy to forget details key to the smooth running of the journey. This is especially the case for unexpected travel disruptions that may force travellers into interactions they couldn’t have planned for.
“Unexpected changes can cause a lot of anxiety, so planning ahead and being early help to calm me down” - Steven Simpson
Lack of familiarity: alienation and anxiety
We all have our home comforts, and often feel alienated once away from these. This feeling is especially pronounced for the neurodivergent. Similarly, to regulated routines, specific items are symbolic of peace and familiarity, and their absence can be a source of anxiety. For instance, not being able to sit down for your go-to meal after a long day. Travelling can bring about all kinds of feelings that may not be typical to the daily experiences of the individual, stemming from tiredness and stress among others.
“Busy transport hubs like airports are overwhelming, especially when I’m without the comforts of home” - SilverDoor Employee
Personal Perspectives
Personal Perspectives
To understand how neurodiversity affects travel, let's hear from those who experience it firsthand.
The Challenges of Neurodivesity – Travelling with ADHD
Miles Gower, Marketing Executive, SilverDoor
As someone diagnosed with ADHD, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of travelling—from grappling with disorganisation to dealing with sensory overload. Each trip brings its own hurdles, but these challenges have pushed me to find solutions and advocate for more inclusive environments.
Being neurodivergent permeates every interaction, every task, every moment. It's like operating on a different wavelength in a world tuned to one standard frequency. Societal norms that guide most people's behaviours often feel misaligned with how my brain works, making ordinary situations—like a meeting at work or a trip to the shops —uniquely challenging. There's a constant effort required to adapt to any given situation. I struggled with this a lot in my younger years, but over time, by understanding my ADHD traits better, I've developed strategies to manage, especially when it comes to travel.
Strategies for Managing the Journey
With a scatter brain and forgetfulness topping the list of challenges when I travel, detailed planning has become my anchor. I delve into travel apps and use Google extensively, mapping out all aspects of a trip—from understanding the layout of my destination to researching local customs, key phrases, and even where the nearest Tesco is so I can buy a new toothbrush when I inevitably forget mine.
Establishing a routine is crucial. I ensure my sleep pattern is consistent before and during the trip. Being tired exacerbates my symptoms making everything more difficult, so getting enough rest is essential. Eating well and regularly can be hard and trips away always cause anxiety leading me to skip meals or seek out quick, unhealthy food. While the occasional treat is fine, maintaining a good diet and regular mealtimes helps me feel better and keeps my routine intact.
I try to mirror my habits at home to reduce disorientation. Packing needs to be methodical; I make a checklist of essentials. Lists are a theme throughout my trips. Having a step-by-step itinerary knowing where I’m going and what my times of arrival are mitigates anxiety. For when things do get too much, I seek out quiet zones. Whether it's a secluded corner in an airport lounge or a quiet café. Knowing I need this space when I’m worked up is half the battle, so it’s always something to keep in mind.
Additionally, when it comes to where I’m staying during a trip, I've learned that communicating my needs early to accommodation providers leads to a much smoother experience.
Despite meticulous prep, unexpected changes are inevitable. Delays, complicated directions and logistical hurdles can be overwhelming. This often leads to feeling distressed—something many neurotypical people experience when things don’t go as planned. However, the intensity far exceeds the typical frustration or stress others might experience.
For me, overly wordy or complex instructions aren’t just inconvenient—they can feel like reading an indecipherable language. It’s a significant barrier for myself and many others. Understanding these challenges is half the battle. Property partners and travel businesses can take meaningful steps to accommodate guests. Neurodiversity is a spectrum. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. However, by acknowledging the unique potential needs a guest might have, serviced apartment providers can take meaningful steps towards inclusivity and accessibility.
How Dyslexic Thinking Enhances My Travel Experiences
By Jo Webb, Head of Orbirelo, Ariosi
As someone with dyslexia, travelling—whether for work or pleasure—sometimes presents challenges others might not consider. Reading large blocks of text can be mentally exhausting for me. Being asked to “read and sign” terms and conditions at check-in or scrolling through lengthy manuals for Wi-Fi passwords or appliance instructions is tough. But dyslexia also offers unique advantages when I travel, especially in situations that require adaptability, creative problem-solving, and thinking outside the box.
Why I Love to Travel
I travel for the sense of discovery and new perspectives. Every destination has its own unique culture, history, and way of life. Travelling lets me step out of my daily routine and experience something completely different. Meeting new people, trying local food, and learning about different traditions are always the highlights for me.
I also enjoy the unpredictability of travel. Even when things don’t go according to plan, there’s excitement in navigation the unexpected and being open to surprises. Whether it’s finding a hidden gem in a city or making connections with new people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise, travel keeps me curious and constantly learning.
My dyslexic thinking brings unique strengths to my travels:
- Strong Problem-Solving Skills: Navigating challenges daily has honed my ability to think creatively. Whether dealing with delays, language barriers, or getting lost, I often find innovative solutions by approaching problems from different angles.
- Big-Picture Focus: I tend to focus on the overall experience rather than getting bogged down in details. This helps me plan better, adjust on the fly, and understand the broader context of a new place or culture without feeling overwhelmed.
- Spatial Awareness: My strong sense of spatial awareness makes navigating new places easier. Whether in a city or out in nature, I rely on landmarks and visual cues instead of just following written directions.
- Resilience and Adaptability: Growing up dyslexic has made me adaptable. I'm used to adjusting quickly to changes—essential when travelling. Whether plans shift unexpectedly or challenges arise, I go with the flow and find alternative solutions.
- Enhanced Communication Skills: Because I don't always rely on reading or writing, I've developed other ways to communicate. This is especially helpful in places with language barriers. I'm good at picking up non-verbal cues and finding creative ways to get my point across when words don't work.
All that being said, the travel industry—especially accommodation providers—could make things easier for dyslexic travellers:
- Send Information Ahead of Time: Sending important instructions, such as check-in details and house rules, before arrival allows people to read and process the information at their own pace, rather than feeling rushed to absorb a lot of text quickly upon arrival.
- Incorporate Visual Aids: Incorporating QR codes that link to video guides and walkthroughs would be incredibly helpful. Videos are much easier to digest than long written manuals and provide clear, visual explanations without the need to read through lots of text.
- Use Dyslexia-Friendly Materials: Ensure that any digital or printed materials use dyslexia-friendly fonts, clear layouts, and minimal jargon. This helps reduce cognitive load and makes information more accessible.
- Offer Alternative Communication Options: Providing options for verbal or audio explanations—either through apps or staff—could make the experience smoother and more accessible.
Travelling with dyslexia has its challenges, but it also brings unique strengths that enhance my experiences. By embracing neurodiversity, the travel industry can not only accommodate travellers like me but also enrich the travel experience for everyone. Simple changes can make a big difference, ensuring that travel is accessible, enjoyable, and inspiring for all.
How Can We Make Corporate Travel More Inclusive?
By Emma Westcott, Client Account Support Placement, SilverDoor
The corporate travel industry is starting to have an honest and open discussion about the ways in which the Serviced Apartment industry could better support neurodiverse travellers, and so we wanted to build on this momentum. Serviced apartments have a unique advantage in this conversation compared to traditional hotels. The goal is to match guests with the accommodations that best meet their needs, moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach. The industry is just beginning to break down these barriers and it's exciting to think about all the possibilities for properties to become more welcoming to neurodiverse individuals.
There are so many ways the industry can become more inclusive, and while not every business can implement all these steps, there is definitely more ground to be covered to create an ideal environment for neurodiverse travellers. If you are want to be a part of this change, here are some steps to consider:
Consider getting your property autism-certified through credible organisations such as International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards and Autism Double-Checked (hyperlink). This helps your staff understand autism better and gives them the ability to provide the right support for guests.
Neurodiverse travellers, like those with dyslexia or ADHD, often find wordy instructions tricky. Try providing visual instructions alongside written ones. Short POV videos showing the check-in process, room tours, location of the property and the check-out steps can help guests feel at ease. Providers are starting to include photos of the building and lockbox locations in the check-in instructions. By seeing the property and the processes before arrival, it allows them to prepare and know what to expect when checking in at a property.
In the internal survey we carried out several people spoke about the idea of a welcome booklet, as some of our colleagues who suffer from anxiety find that it is a trigger for them when faced with speaking to or approaching staff. These welcome booklets could include frequently asked questions, as well as suggestions on where to eat, and a map. Having a welcome booklet with frequently asked questions, important numbers and a map will give guests who struggle with anxiety an alternate option to speaking to staff.
Allow guests to request items, like their favourite toiletries or snacks. Neurodiverse travellers crave predictability, and by adding these small touches, it can make their stay feel more like home.
Sensory kits can boost comfort for Neurodiverse travellers. These sensory kits can include weighted blankets, sound machines, and fidgets. These items can keep guests calm by helping them to reduce sensory overload from their overwhelming days travelling.
Typically, travelling involves crowds filled with noise, which can be overstimulating to neurodivergent guests. Designating quiet areas in your property provides them with a space to retreat and relax amidst the hustle and bustle of travel.
Consider offering viewings for guests, giving them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the property so they know exactly what to expect. Practice stays would also benefit those feeling anxious about new surroundings and offering this at a discounted rate before their actual stay and allows them to get comfortable with the property.
Serviced apartments are uniquely suited to support neurodiverse travellers through their inherent flexibility, personalisation, and space. By implementing some of the strategies mentioned above, property providers could really make a difference in bringing this inclusivity to life, ensuring that every guest feels accommodated and valued. At the heart of this approach is empowering guests by providing them with a range of options, giving them the freedom to choose how they experience their stay.
Whilst many properties are happy to accommodate on request, is there a possibility for policies to be implemented and endorsed, rather than something guests must know to ask for?
Currently, the burden of responsibility falls on individuals to ensure they are heard, and their needs are met. However, could we not place this responsibility on ourselves collectively to create greater inclusivity and accessibility for all? Progress begins with conversations—whether we agree, disagree or fall somewhere in between—perhaps a little neurodiverse thinking is exactly what the industry needs.
