This Christmas Rosie Buckley gives us her thoughts on making your Christmas festivities fun for everyone, regardless of age or ability, as gatherings should make everyone feel included.

Christmas is an exciting time of year for many people! However, for those with disabilities, inaccessibility can create challenges. Physical, sensory, or cognitive barriers can limit full participation. Inclusivity makes sure that everyone can celebrate in a meaningful way.

Consider Elderly Guests

Make sure you include elderly guests by providing comfortable and accessible seating. Many elderly people also have exciting life stories that they’re often willing to share. Ask questions to your elderly loved ones about their past to learn more about them and who they are.

Have Inclusive Communication

If you have any guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, learn some sign language. Even if it’s just how to sign ‘Merry Christmas’ this can make someone smile. If you’re brave enough, you could learn the chorus of a Christmas song in sign language. Don’t worry about getting it wrong, it’s worth a try!

Think About Dietary Needs

Label ingredients and prepare alternative dishes for people with dietary restrictions. There’s nothing worse for people with dietary needs than getting to a party and having nothing available to eat. Vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant and religious dietary requirements are all people you may need to accommodate.

Create Flexible Spaces

Offer breaks and quiet locations for your guests. This is ideal for those with sensory issues or for people who get anxious. Having a place to go when things can get overwhelming can be really useful for some people. Video calls are another flexible thing you can try out with family. It’s a good option for guests who can’t go to Christmas events in person. Travelling isn’t always an easy option for everyone.

Rethinking Christmas Spaces:

If you make environments accessible, this can make a big difference to someone’s Christmas.

Make Wheelchair Accessibility a Priority

If you’re hiring a venue, make sure there’s wheelchair access. Ramps, lifts, wide doorways and accessible toilets are useful for those with wheelchairs. It’s also ideal to check if there’s disabled parking on site. If you’re hosting a party at home, rearrange the furniture to create clear pathways.

Use Sensory Friendly Decorations

Avoid overwhelming sensory stimuli like flashing lights. Loud sounds are also a trigger for may people. Think about using dimmable lights and soft colours. Quiet and calming music can also be more inclusive to those who experience hypersensitivity. Carpets are also useful for noise reduction. You could buy some festive carpets to add to your decorations.

Put Up Clear Signage

Going to a venue and not knowing the way around can be tricky for anyone. To help visually impaired guests, use braille and readable fonts around the building.

 Inclusive Christmas Traditions

Traditional festive activities can be adapted to suit people’s needs:

Carefully Choose Crafts 

Using large materials and simple instructions can make crafting sessions less stressful for some people. Simple and easy colouring books are a good example. They can be exciting for children and are straightforward. Using a range of textures and materials is another thing you can do to make crafts more inclusive. Whilst helping people with crafts, make sure you’re supportive and encouraging.

Track Santa

Meeting Santa is exciting, but can be challenging for those with sensory or mobility issues. There’re many apps and websites you can use to track Santa as he delivers presents on Christmas Eve. Online Santa meet and greets are also an alternative to meeting Santa in person.

Go to Inclusive Performances

Watching performances at the theatre is exciting. For those with sensory issues however, it can come with challenges. Many places put on sensory friendly plays or performances. They’ll have small differences like quieter sounds and lighting.

Spreading Awareness  

Start conversations about accessibility with friends and family. If more people are educated, then more changes can be made. If you have someone coming to your party who has a disability, ask if there’s anything you can do to help. Learning from them can make everything a lot easier for you. It can also give you peace of mind to know that they feel happy and comfortable.

Conclusion 

Hopefully this article has given you some useful suggestions to take on board. Everyone deserves to feel welcomed at Christmas! Making small changes can create a huge difference.