Farol Congress 2026: My experience traveling alone, accessibility, and what could be improved ✈️💙

Participate in Lighthouse Congress 2026 It was an experience full of different feelings for me. There was anxiety, tiredness, moments of being overwhelmed, learning, interesting lectures, and also some points that, in my opinion, could be improved—especially when we talk about... accessibility for people with disabilities and autistic people.

Since I had already participated in the Farol Congress last year, I inevitably ended up making some comparisons between the two editions. Some changes were very positive, others were lacking, and others could be reconsidered to make the event even more inclusive.

Furthermore, this time there was a significant challenge for me: I traveled alone by plane.. ✈️

For many people this may seem simple, but for an autistic person, traveling alone involves much more than buying a ticket, getting on a plane, and arriving at the destination. There is a whole emotional, mental, and practical preparation process even before the trip begins.

Traveling alone by plane as an autistic person ✈️

One of the most memorable parts of this trip happened even before I arrived at the Farol Congress.

I went alone on a plane, And that naturally increased my anxiety considerably.

When we are autistic, situations involving many steps, changes in environment, schedules, travel, and possible unforeseen events can demand an enormous amount of mental energy.

The journey begins long before the plane leaves the ground.

You need to think about what time to leave home, check-in, documents, luggage, the boarding gate, possible flight changes, where to sit, what the disembarkation process will be like, and what to do after arriving.

Even when we plan everything in advance, there's still that worry:

“"What if something happens differently than I planned?"”

For an autistic person, this anticipation can be quite exhausting. 😥

In my case, I managed to make the trip alone, and I consider that an important personal achievement.

But being able to do something doesn't mean it's easy or that the anxiety simply disappears.

Sometimes we manage to accomplish a certain activity despite the anxiety, fear, and exhaustion it generates.

From Florianópolis to Bombinhas: traffic and lots of fatigue 🚗

After arriving at Florianópolis airport, there was still the entire journey to Bombinhas.

And that part ended up being quite stressful.

Traffic was heavy and the journey of It took quite a while to get from Florianópolis to Bombinhas..

After all the emotional strain of traveling alone by plane, being stuck in traffic for so long only increased my level of exhaustion.

For autistic people, this type of situation can be very difficult.

You've already been through the airport, the plane, disembarking, the change of scenery, the noise, the people, the instructions, and several small decisions. After all that, you still have to deal with traffic, time spent in the car, noise, heat, hunger, and that feeling of not knowing exactly how much longer it will take to arrive.

When we finally arrived, I was already quite tired.

And this experience made me think again about something we often forget when we talk about tourism and events for autistic people:

The event doesn't just begin when we walk through the door.

The entire journey to the location is also part of the experience.

Farol Congress 2026: many interesting talks 💡

Speaking specifically about the Lighthouse Congress 2026, I consider the overall experience to have been positive.

There were many interesting lectures, Different professionals, important topics, and plenty of content throughout the program.

Events like the Farol Congress are important because they create space to talk about autism, inclusion, development, education, families, professionals, and different experiences within the spectrum.

These are also opportunities to meet people we follow on social media, find professionals, exchange experiences, and hear different perspectives.

At the same time, there is one point that always weighs heavily on me:

It's a tiring event.

A conference can be very tiring for an autistic person.

Even when we are really enjoying the lectures, we need to remember that a conference involves several stimuli at the same time.

There are many people talking, constant movement, lights, sounds, queues, lectures, changes between spaces, social interaction, and the need to remain alert for several hours.

For me, after a while, this becomes quite tiring.

And that doesn't mean the event is bad.

Sometimes we're really enjoying the content, but our body and brain simply start asking for rest.

There is that conflict between:

“"I want to attend this lecture."”

and

“"I need to get away from everything for a few minutes."”

Therefore, one of the things I liked most about the Farol 2026 Congress was precisely the existence of a decompression room.

Relaxation room: one of the best spaces at the congress 🧩💙

THE decompression room at the Farol 2026 Congress It was extremely important to me.

It was a space where I could go, reduce stimuli, rest a bit, and regulate myself before returning to my activities.

Having this type of environment at autism-related events should be a basic requirement, but we still see many events that talk about inclusion without offering spaces truly designed for neurodivergent people.

In Farol, this space made all the difference.

At certain times I simply needed to stop.

Don't talk.

Not paying attention during a lecture.

Not processing dozens of pieces of information.

Just rest.

After some time there, I was able to return to Congress more disciplined.

This shows how some adaptations can allow an autistic person to stay longer at an event without reaching their limit so quickly.

The space was more open than last year.

Another positive point I noticed in this edition was that The place seemed more open than the previous year..

In my experience, this helped a lot.

Very enclosed spaces, narrow corridors, and large concentrations of people can increase that feeling of being overwhelmed.

Having more space to move around makes the experience more comfortable, especially during times when there are more people circulating through the event.

That was one of the positive aspects of the 2026 edition. 👏

I wish there were more photos with the speakers 📸

One of the things I noticed was different compared to last year was the possibility of taking photos with the speakers.

It doesn't mean that nobody took photos with the audience. Some speakers, such as Lucelmo Lacerda, For example, there were still times when it was possible to make that record.

However, in my perception, this happened with far fewer speakers than last year..

In the previous edition, there was a dynamic that facilitated this contact more and made it possible to record the moment with different professionals and guests of the congress.

In 2026, with the creation of the new Experience package, Part of that proximity and some of those experiences became more concentrated in a specific ticket category.

For those with regular tickets, the feeling was that this possibility had become more limited.

I understand that events need to create different ticket categories and may offer extra benefits for certain packages.

I also think it's valid to have a premium experience with additional benefits.

The point that makes me reflect is when something that was previously a broader part of the congress experience becomes more restricted.

In my opinion, it would be interesting to find a balance.

The Experience program can continue to offer exclusive benefits, but it would be great to maintain broader opportunities for interaction or photography with the speakers for the rest of the audience as well.

I also missed the breakfast snack ☕

Another difference compared to last year was the breakfast snack.

In the previous edition, there was this small snack, which I consider quite positive when we think that many people arrive early and stay practically the whole day at the congress.

This time we didn't have that snack in the same way.

There was food available for those who stayed in the room. Experience, but not for all audiences.

And I believe that's a detail that makes a difference.

Especially at a long event, offering something simple in the morning can be very helpful.

It doesn't have to be anything fancy.

A coffee, a piece of fruit, a bread roll, or a small snack can greatly improve the experience for those who left the hotel early or faced a long commute to get to the conference.

Food at the Farol Congress: simple and good, but a bit pricey 🍔

Regarding the food options available on site, I found the food... simple and good.

We were able to eat normally and I didn't have any major problems with the quality.

The main downside, in my opinion, was the price.

Some things were a bit expensive.

It's clear that food at events usually ends up being more expensive, but when you add up the cost of tickets, travel, accommodation, parking, and food, participating in a congress of this size ends up being a considerable investment.

For families traveling from other cities or states, this cost increases even more.

Parking with spaces for people with disabilities ♿

One important point for us was the parking.

There was Job openings reserved for people with disabilities — PCD And we were able to use them.

This made access to the event easier, and I consider it very positive that this concern exists.

Having reserved parking spaces near the entrance is essential, especially for people with specific mobility needs or other conditions that make long commutes more difficult.

However, parking cost R$ 30 per day.

When considering an event that lasts several days, this cost also needs to be factored into the travel expenses.

Tickets are sold in batches, but what about a specific benefit for people with disabilities?

This is one of the main points I would like to suggest for future editions of the Farol Congress.

The congress has different ticket batches, And usually, those who buy in the first batches are able to pay a lower price.

This is positive because it allows those who plan ahead to save money.

But I believe there is an important difference between a promotional lot and a policy designed specifically for people with disabilities.

The reduced price for the first batches is related to the time of purchase and applies to anyone who manages to buy a ticket during that period.

A specific benefit for people with disabilities would have a different purpose: to make the event more financially accessible to an audience that is directly involved in the topics discussed at the congress.

In my opinion, it would be interesting if the event clearly provided some form of... Half-price tickets, discounts, or tickets with a specific price for people with disabilities..

We are talking about a congress that directly addresses topics related to autism, inclusion, disability, and neurodiversity.

Therefore, I believe that offering more accessible conditions so that people with disabilities can participate would be very consistent with the event's purpose itself.

Not all autistic people have the same financial situation.

Many people with disabilities already have high expenses related to therapies, consultations, medications, transportation, adaptations, caregivers, and various other needs.

Furthermore, those coming from another city still need to pay for airfare or fuel, accommodation, food, and other travel costs.

Yes, those who manage to buy in the first batch pay less, but it's not always possible for someone to organize themselves or have the money available at that exact time.

Therefore, I believe that thinking about a More affordable PCD (People with Disabilities) tickets regardless of the batch. This could allow more autistic people to participate directly in these discussions.

For me, there is something especially important in this:

It's not enough to talk about autistic people. It's important to create conditions so that autistic people are also present.

The trip home and the sensory room at Florianópolis Airport 💙✈️

On the way back, my parents dropped me off. earlier at Florianópolis Airport.

This meant I would have plenty of time before my flight.

For some people, waiting several hours at an airport might not be a big problem. But airports are naturally stimulus-filled environments.

There are audio announcements, people constantly passing by, noisy luggage, children, queues, screens, boarding calls, and constant changes around us.

It was at that moment that I had a very positive experience with the sensory room at Florianópolis Airport.

I thought the sensory room was great. 💙

Having a space specifically designed to reduce stimuli and allow for a moment of self-regulation makes a big difference, especially when we need to spend a considerable amount of time inside the airport.

Instead of spending the entire waiting period in a crowded environment with constant movement and noise, I was able to have a quieter space to rest and organize myself emotionally before the flight.

This type of initiative shows how Accessibility also means considering sensory needs..

Not all disabilities are visible, and not all accessibility needs involve only ramps, elevators, or mobility.

For many autistic people, having an environment with fewer stimuli can be the difference between being able to have a more peaceful trip or reaching the limit of sensory overload.

After all the intensity of the trip, the conference, and the travel, finding this space at the airport was very positive.

Accessibility needs to be everywhere in the game.

This trip also showed something that I consider very important when we talk about Accessible tourism for autistic people.

Accessibility shouldn't only exist at the final destination.

She needs to be present throughout the entire process.

At the airport.

In transportation.

At the hotel.

At the congress.

In the parking lot.

In terms of nutrition.

During waiting times.

And also in spaces where a person can simply stop and relax.

The decompression room at the congress and the sensory room at Florianópolis Airport were two very clear examples of how a suitable environment can completely change the experience of an autistic person.

The final tally of the Farol 2026 Congress 💙

Despite the points that I believe could be improved, my experience in Lighthouse Congress 2026 It was positive.

I enjoyed the lectures, the topics presented, and especially noticing some structural improvements, such as the more open space and the decompression room.

The decompression room, in particular, was essential for me.

Without her, it probably would have been much more difficult to stay at the event for so many hours.

At the same time, I missed some things that were part of the previous year's experience, especially a greater opportunity to take photos with the speakers and the snack provided in the morning.

Some speakers still took photos with the audience, like Lucelmo Lacerda, but I found this possibility much more limited compared to last year.

The creation of the Experience package also brought a greater sense of separation between some of the experiences available during the congress.

I understand the proposal to have a premium category, but I believe it's important to ensure that the standard experience doesn't lose benefits that were previously part of the broader event.

This trip was also a personal achievement 🌻

Beyond the conference itself, this trip meant something bigger to me.

I traveled alone by plane.

I was anxious.

I've dealt with airports.

The journey to Bombinhas was tiring.

The traffic was stressful.

The congress required a lot of energy.

At times I needed to step away, rest, and get back on track.

And then I still had to make the whole trip back home.

This experience reminded me once again that autonomy doesn't mean doing everything without difficulty.

Sometimes, autonomy means knowing our needs, preparing strategies, using available resources, and understanding when we need to rest.

Traveling as an autistic person can involve planning, anticipation, anxiety, and adaptation.

But it can also bring very important experiences and that good feeling of realizing:

“"I achieved."” 💙

What would I like to see at the Farol 2027 Congress?

If I could leave some suggestions for a future edition, they would be:

• maintain and, if possible, expand the decompression room;
• continue using large, well-ventilated spaces;
• create some clear option of Half-price ticket, discount, or specific ticket for people with disabilities., in addition to the promotional lots;
• To resume a broader possibility of interaction or photography with the speakers for the general public;
• offer a small breakfast snack again;
• look for food options with a wider range of prices;
• continue guaranteeing parking spaces designated for people with disabilities;
• We need to think more and more about the sensory accessibility of the event;
• Listen to autistic people about what can make Congress even more accessible.

The Farol Congress is an important event, and I believe that precisely because it addresses topics related to autism, there is a huge opportunity for it to become an increasingly important reference point in this area as well. accessibility in practice.

Was it worth participating in the Farol 2026 Congress?

For me, Yes.

It was tiring, some things could have been better, and there were quite stressful moments during the trip, but it also brought knowledge, new experiences, and an important personal achievement.

I returned home thinking not only about the lectures, but also about how we can make trips, conferences, and events increasingly welcoming for autistic people.

Because inclusion isn't just about the topic of a lecture.

Inclusion is included in the ticket price.

In the parking lot.

In terms of nutrition.

If you have the opportunity to take a break.

In the decompression room.

In the sensory room of an airport.

In the environment.

In communication.

And especially in the possibility of to participate without having to push ourselves beyond all limits to be there.. 🌻

Did you also participate in the Farol 2026 Congress?

Tell us in the comments about your experience and what aspects you'd like to see improved in future editions. 💬

And if you like content about autism, travel, accessibility and inclusive tourism, continue following the Autistics Around the World. 💙🌎