最重度知的障害・自閉症の息子GENEとの旅を、ちょっとずつ積み重ねてきました。
難しいことも多いけど、“できたこと”も“笑えたこと”も、旅のたからもの。
「行けた」が、「また行きたい」になる──そんな旅を目指しています。
Traveling with my son Gene, who has profound autism and intellectual disability, has taught us so much.
There have been many challenges, but also joyful moments and little victories along the way.
These are not just travel records—they’re glimpses of hope.
We travel so that “We did it” becomes “We want to do it again.”
1歳半、言葉の壁の前で立ち止まった
GENEが1歳半になった頃、私たちは保育園に通わせ始めました。
周りの子はどんどん言葉を話し始めていて、
「そろそろGENEもかな？」と思っていたけれど、
どうもそうならない。
先生も「話し出しそうですよね」と言ってくれていたけど、
話す気配はなく…。
「言葉のシャワー」で何かが変わるかもしれない
私たちは、昔から海外旅行が大好き。
そしてふと、
「グアムで“英語のシャワー”を浴びたら、GENEの脳が刺激されて、言葉が出てくるかも」
と本気で考えてしまったんです。
そんな気持ちを半分冗談めかして周囲に話しながら、
実は本気でグアム旅行を決行
チャッキーチーズで見せてくれた反応
旅の目的は、「言語刺激」。
その中でも私たちが目をつけたのが
チャッキーチーズ。
日本ではなかなか体験できないキャラクターとのふれあい、英語の環境、子ども同士の空間
最初は「音が大きすぎて嫌がるかも」と不安もあったけど、
GENEはスッと店に入り、
キャラクターに近づき、
ハイタッチ。
周囲の子たちとは交流しなかったけど、
楽しそうにその場の空気に身を委ねていた。
そして、チャッキーと記念撮影まで。
——それだけでもう、十分すぎるほどの手ごたえを感じた。
滞在ホテルと、失敗したステーキの夜
宿泊したのは「ヒルトン グアム リゾート＆スパ」。
海も近くて、広々としたプールも静かで安心。
スタッフの方も優しくて、
GENEにとっても落ち着ける場所でした
ただ一つだけ…ステーキハウスに行ったときだけは、なぜか強く拒否。
食べる前に出てきてしまいました。
一方でシーフードレストランは気に入ったようで、
ちゃんと食事ができました。
この頃はまだ「外食が難しい子」の対策を今ほどしていなかった気がします。
目に見えない“ことばの種”をまいた旅
この旅でGENEが急に話し出すことはなかったけれど、
あの時の体験、
あの空気、
あの笑顔は、
きっと彼の中に何かの“種”として残っていると、今でも思います。
そして、もっと気軽に海外旅行に行けたらなと、、、。
Gene’s Travel #03 Guam Trip at 1.5 Years Old – Hoping for a Spark of Language
At 18 Months – Just Started Daycare
GENE was 18 months old and had just started attending daycare.
Other kids were already chatting away.
GENE seemed so close to speaking… but no words came out.
Even his daycare teachers said, “He looks like he’s about to talk!”
What If English Could Spark Something?
We’ve always loved traveling abroad.
So we thought… what if we took GENE to Guam?
Maybe the immersion in English would stimulate his language brain.
We joked about it with others—but honestly, we were serious.
That was our real reason for the trip.
Chuck E. Cheese — And an Unexpected High-Five
One place came to mind: Chuck E. Cheese.
A sensory-packed space filled with lights, music, kids, characters.
To be honest, we weren’t expecting much.
Maybe he wouldn’t even go in… maybe he’d cover his ears and melt down.
But to our surprise—GENE walked right in.
He approached the costumed character and gave him a high-five.
No real interaction with the other kids, but he joined the circle.
He looked like he was having fun.
And for us, that was everything.
We even snapped a photo with Chuck E. himself.
Trusting the Stimulus Would Sink In
That experience alone made the trip worth it.
The effects might take time…
But we believed something had been planted inside him.
Where We Stayed: Hilton Guam Resort & Spa
The staff were friendly, the pool was quiet with no loud slides,
and the beach right in front was calm and uncrowded.
We could enjoy time with sea creatures in a peaceful setting.
Perfect for a sensory-sensitive little traveler.
Tiny Dining Adventures
We tried a steakhouse one night, but GENE wasn’t having it.
We left before even ordering.
Back then, we didn’t worry too much about his sensitivities during meals.
Interestingly, he enjoyed the seafood restaurant the next day.
It was his kind of place.
Now We Know — That Was GENE’s Quiet “YES”
He didn’t say a word.
But his actions spoke loud and clear.
Walking into the restaurant.
Giving that high-five.
Joining the group.
Looking back, those moments were his way of saying:
“Yes. I’m okay here.”
And that’s the kind of YES we’ve learned to notice and treasure.
