The holidays can be a wonderful time of year for many, but they can be difficult and even isolating for people with unique needs and experiences. How can you make your holiday celebrations inclusive for individuals with disabilities? Let’s explore the many ways you can make holiday parties, events and even gift-giving accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability.

Communicating Inclusively During the Holidays

Inclusive celebrations begin with inclusive communication, says Hannah Tamayo, KVC Nebraska’s Director of Developmental Disabilities. She highlights the value of person-first language and encourages continuous learning to improve how we communicate inclusively.

Hannah Tamayo, MNM
Director of Developmental Disability Services

“It’s about breaking down those barriers as far as the stigmas associated with disabilities,” says Tamayo. “The common thread along anything disability-related is being comfortable advocating for an individual.”

Use moments of offensive or non-person-centered language at gatherings as opportunities to advocate for respectful, inclusive communication. Gently communicate the importance of inclusive phrasing. In most cases, the person doesn’t mean any harm and will take the correction good-naturedly.

In addition to person-first language, it’s important to focus on capability rather than limitation when discussing disabilities. For example, instead of referring to a person as “wheelchair-bound,” say a person “utilizes a wheelchair.” This focuses on the wheelchair as a tool that helps, rather than a restriction or limitation.

How to Accommodate Individuals with Disabilities During the Holidays

It’s likely you know someone who has a disability, or is a caretaker for a person with a disability. When planning your holiday event, ensure attendees feel confident and included with thoughtful, inclusive preparations.

Send the Invite!

The first thing to do is actually extend an invitation! Tamayo points out that individuals with disabilities are often excluded because people feel uncertain about how to accommodate them, or worry they wouldn’t want to attend anyway. But that’s not the case.

“The support network for people with disabilities can often be smaller, so it’s important to just send the invitation,” Tamayo says. “Be sure that you’re involving people, because they might not have access to the same community that you do.” 

Inviting someone to an event, even if they end up choosing not to attend, is an important step in being more inclusive. After sending the invite, take a minute to call the person or their caregiver to ask if they will require any extra accommodations. This extra step can help caretakers and individuals with disabilities feel more comfortable asking for the assistance they need, knowing they will be heard and supported. If you are inviting someone in person, ask if there is anything you can do to make their experience more comfortable.

When Hosting a Party: Adapt for Inclusion

At home gatherings, create an inclusive environment by accommodating the needs of guests with disabilities thoughtfully. As a party host, you likely have already thought about some level of accommodation for the guests you’ve invited. For instance, a party with children in attendance will need to have different food and activities compared to an adults-only event. Inviting someone with a disability is similar: you just need to take the time to think about what sort of adjustments can make the party more enjoyable for them.

“Everyone has their unique traits and needs and wants and desires,” says Tamayo. “Just ensure you’re considering that if you have somebody who might need a little bit of extra support coming to a party.” 

Here are some examples of things you can do to be more inclusive of guests at your holiday party:

• Make sure you have an accessible bathroom.
• If you’re hosting a dinner party and the table legs are close together or the table is too low for a wheelchair to pull up, set up a folding table at one end.
• Take sensory sensitivities into consideration by not having the music too loud, avoiding excessive flashing lights and having a quiet place where people can go if they feel overstimulated.
• If a caretaker is attending with someone who needs to use adult diapers, ensure they will have a private room for changing if necessary.
• Place a temporary/portable ramp over the stairs to get into your house, and if you have a multi-story home, keep the party on one level to avoid moving up or down flights of stairs.

If you’re not sure how you can accommodate a guest with a disability, ask! They may not bring it up themselves because they don’t want to be a bother, which could result in them not attending your party at all. Asking how you can help them attend your event will go a long way in making them feel included.

When at a Venue: Ask About Accommodations

Hosting at a venue or inviting guests to an event can make accommodations harder, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible! “You’re not going to be able to solve all the things when it comes to outside environments or change their way of doing things, but you can usually find creative solutions around it,” suggests Tamayo.

In external settings, call ahead to explore available accommodations for inclusion and accessibility. Most public facilities will be ADA-compliant, but it’s important to ask. This can help you create a plan that will make sure everyone feels comfortable attending.

Tamayo gave the example of a drive-through holiday lights display like the one in Omaha. Plan for sensory sensitivities: Check ahead for early exit spots along the display route to leave comfortably if needed.

How to Advocate as a Caretaker or Individual with a Disability

If you or someone with you has a disability, don’t hesitate to ask for accommodations! “Take the step to ask the question because the worst they can say is no,” says Tamayo.

“Even though we don’t want to be a bother sometimes, making sure that people feel included is much more important.”

How to Give Meaningful Gifts to Individuals with Disabilities

Gift-giving for individuals with disabilities doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply think about what they might want or need, just as you would for any other friend or family member. At KVC Nebraska, everyone in our services receives a personalized gift from us based on their unique wants and interests. For example, someone who is visually impaired might enjoy something with a soft texture or that plays nice music. Tailor gifts to their abilities, preferences, and joys emphasizing inclusivity and accommodation.

More Ways to Give Back This Holiday

Foster inclusivity this holiday season by personally accommodating and supporting the unique needs of individuals with disabilities in your life. That said, you can get involved on a larger scale as well! Look for local opportunities to give back and be generous during the holidays, and include your family to make it a meaningful season for all.

If you want to be more of a support and resource to individuals with disabilities, consider becoming a shared living provider, offering respite care services or even making a donation to help support KVC Nebraska with the work we’re doing every day.