Welcome to Shawnee Sensory Safe Travels, a service offered by Jessi Thomas, CATP, of Thomas Family Goes.
Shawnee Sensory Safe Travels came from a place of personal experience and need. As a neurodivergent family who loves exploring and promoting the Midwest, we’ve realized our needs and travel planning differ from neurotypical families…but we hadn’t found a lot of support for those needs.
It turns out, we aren’t alone. Over 87% of neurodivergent families do not travel, because 97% are not satisfied with the current autism-certified spaces. 93% would travel, if there were more options that met these needs.
While we can’t change the entire Southern Illinois tourism and hospitality overnight, I believe that offering personalized services that not only inform travelers of sensory-friendly and/or challenging aspects of each lodging, event, or location but also support their stay here is a start.
But, I can’t do this alone. If you are a local AirBNB or rental owner, event venue, winery, restaurant, or other hospitality business — I’d love to tour your space. The only way I can accurately recommend and match a traveler to the perfect space is to know the ins and outs of those spaces. This tour will be at no cost to you; and if you would like a report with suggestions on how to make that space more sensory-friendly, I am available for consultation.
If you are a traveler looking for a comfortable, welcoming space with loads of privacy; look no further. Southern Illinois is home to dozens upon dozens of gorgeous rentals tucked among the Shawnee National Forest, rolling hills, on the shores of private lakes.
We have so much to offer, I can’t wait to chat with you to share more.
Jessi Thomas, CATP
Services for Travelers
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How it works: We will chat via email, phone, or Zoom to best understand your travel preferences, needs, avoidances, and sensitivities. I will create a travel itinerary, including suggesting lodgings that have been personally inspected and reviewed by me, and activities throughout your stay.
Custom Itineraries are a flat fee of $50
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Have a list of places you’re interested in visiting, but unsure if they’re physically safe for your family, or just need a walk through video? Send me! I will complete the itinerary you have in mind, and then send video walk throughs + a complete report with sensory triggers, physical challenges, and overall impressions of each location.
Starting price: $40 per hour. Report time takes 1.5 hours.
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Grocery, catering, cake, or other item delivery + set up
Before your arrival or for a pre-selected time during your stay, I will be available to fetch orders and have them put away or displayed per instructions.Sensory-safe Staging & child-proofing (pre-arrival)
A service for guest or lodging owner, before arrival the unit will be customized to guest’s preferences, which can include fragrance removal, changing types of lightbulbs (and replacing before departure), child-proofing (I will provide equipment), bedding change and/or wash in preferred detergent. If you prefer your own items, ship them in the days leading up to your trip. I will safekeep them before setting up at your destination.
Services for Businesses
Want to become Shawnee Sensory-Safe certified?
How about a quick audit of your event space or lodging to figure out where to start in making your home neurodivergent-friendly?
Stand out by offering additional services on your listing!
Let’s partner together to contract our Concierge Services to your guests!
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General/First Audit
I will assess all areas of your lodging using a strategic evaluation scoring system.
You will receive a copy of your evaluation, which will include recommendations for changes complete with links to products or information on how to make those changes. -
Sensory: Before check-in, I will make the unit sensory-friendly according to your guests needs or preferences. This includes changing LED light bulbs to the preferred color, removing or replacing scents and odors, hanging blackout curtains, washing bedding in fragrance-free detergent or swapping bedding for the preferred fabrics.
Child-proofing: Need someone to come in before your guests with children and provide baby gates, place door knob and outlet covers, removable corner covers, and just give it the overall “mom eye”? I’d love to help childproof your rental so that you do not have to keep unsightly safety gear constantly up or stored, but have this service available for your guests.
I will also return to the rental after check out to remove items or reset the unit pre or post cleaning, your choice.
You may stack these with Concierge Services and have groceries or other products picked up and put away for an additional $40 per hour.
$100 flat fee for Prep services
Booking
If interested in services, please fill out the following form, or send an email to jessithomas618@gmail.com for additional questions.
*If you do not hear back within three business days, your message may have went to spam; reach out through this site or social media channels.
Pricing Formula
While I believe in full price transparency before making someone hit that message button, know that these prices are an average estimate starting point that will be adjusted accordingly.
The total cost for each task is calculated by hourly wage ($40), and an additional mileage fee of .50 cents per mile will be added if the tasks require travel over 25 miles in total, with a starting point in Carterville, Illinois.