How can I make everyone feel included this holiday season? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, then our ten-step guide on the topic is perfect for you.

We summarize some essential steps to making everyone feel included during the time of year devoted to celebrating family and friends. Keep in mind that you can also find many resources on supporting people with autism and other exceptionalities in our previous blog posts.

1. Due Diligence, Darling

One of the essential steps when engaging and including people with autism in social events is to understand them. To be truly inclusive, you first need to know what to expect and how to handle interactions in a respectful and kind manner. 

Make sure to do your homework beforehand by asking questions on whether they need anything specific to feel supported during your gathering. All this can prevent you from being hurtful or creating a situation that may be uncomfortable or even triggering to a person with disabilities.

2. You’re Cordially Invited… to Invite Them!

Sometimes, some people automatically assume that because somebody has a hard time ‘fitting in’ or socializing, that means no invitation. Shocking, but true. 

Including friends and family members with autism or other exceptionalities in a gathering won’t be difficult if that is your concern. 

Most people with a particular condition already live with it 365 days a year and know how to handle themselves. All you need to do is respect their certain boundaries, understand their triggers, and ensure they feel comfortable. 

The holiday season is about doing good and giving the gift of love. By sending that invitation, you will ensure that the person feels like their presence is valuable and appreciated! You may have met some people with special needs that appear to not show much emotion, but it goes without saying that everyone, regardless of where they are on the spectrum, has feelings. Make them feel special during the holiday season (and throughout the year!)

3. Planning, Planning, Planning

If you want to be inclusive, include everyone in the holiday gathering planning. This way, you can learn what is enjoyable for them and make the whole family experience more diverse and fun.

By involving people on the spectrum in the decision-making process, you not only make them feel like a vital part of the family, but you also can get a perspective on fun, intriguing ideas. Often, people with ASDs (autism spectrum disorders) have a different view of the world, making them creative thinkers, contributing many out-of-the-box ideas.

4. No Triggers, No Foul

Do you know the triggers of your friends and family members on the spectrum? If you have ever seen them have a difficult time, you may not know what triggered their behavior. Because of the way their brains work, certain stimuli might cause a physical reaction. Things like loud noises, bright lights, even new foods or people could be triggering, but each individual is unique. 

If you don't know their triggers, there's no shame in asking. That will show the person that you care about their well-being and want to make them comfortable!

You cannot know before you ask. Keeping in mind potential triggers when planning your event can make a massive difference in the long run and ensure a happy holiday event for everyone.

5. Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Spectrum-Friendly

People on the spectrum may have food allergies or special dietary needs. If you are hosting a holiday dinner, it's crucial to have each person's dietary requirement met. Always opt to have gluten and dairy-free options alongside some vegetarian ones. Be respectful of their needs, even if you don't fully understand them. Be conscious that they’re not just being picky, and remember- acceptance is the key to inclusion.

6. Under Pressure

While some people may not want to include people with special needs in their social gatherings, others can go so far  to make them feel included, that they put them under pressure during games or group activities.

It’s important to know and respect their boundaries. Work towards finding the balance in each situation. Not participating sometimes is better than doing so and accidentally making them feel uncomfortable. It all starts with a conversation!

7. The Holiday Blues

The holiday season often involves lots of traveling from one state to another or even voyaging abroad for a vacation. All this can be lots of fun, but remember that people on the spectrum may need additional care during this time. 

Families who care for someone with special needs understand everything that goes into it - special equipment, additional assistance, new environments that might be triggering, or medications to prevent sickness or anxiety. 

Keep in mind what the travelers are going through and be as considerate and welcoming as possible. Ask them if they need time to rest before starting the holiday activities, and make sure you put some time to rest into the overall planning. 

8. Curb Your Enthusiasm Attitude

Kids or people from older generations can often be insensitive when interacting with people with autism or other special needs. It's important to know that this often comes from ignorance rather than maliciousness. Nevertheless, it's essential to always address others’ concerning attitudes. Be bold yet kind and respectful to all sides if such a situation happens.

Also, if you know that a relative of yours often has a particular attitude, it's good to talk to them in advance and encourage them to be kinder and more thoughtful. It doesn’t take too much to be polite and supportive towards others.

9. Disconnect and Recharge

The holiday season is a time to connect with family and friends, often in big gatherings. All of this can sometimes be stressful and overstimulating to people on the spectrum, some who may find it harder to socialize.

Ask your relative or a friend what activity they would like to do during the holiday season. Often that may include something other than meeting a big group of people, so take the time to spend quality time with them, doing activities they enjoy. Such activities may include anything from going to the bookstore, drinking a hot cup of cocoa while doing creative activities, or anything related to recharging one's social batteries.

10. Learn From Your Mistakes And Stay Positive

Everybody makes mistakes, and you shouldn't beat yourself up if you feel like you didn’t give them all of the best experiences over the holidays. Sometimes when we want to be supportive of others, we hold a lot of expectations, and when something doesn't go as planned, we feel awful. If you think you experienced a situation where your friend or relative with autism was mistreated - learn from it. Learn how to handle such cases better, talk to your friends and family to educate them to be more caring, and work towards improving this in the future. 

We cannot change the past, but we can work on building a better environment for the future. Concentrate on how you can make a positive change, and be grateful for the lovely holiday moments you have spent together. 

Final Thoughts

Being inclusive to people with special needs is vital to any community. With all these tips, we hope to inspire you to take baby steps to make the world a more inclusive place.

If any of your friends, family, or you personally have teens with ASDs, you may find traditional schooling systems don’t offer your teen the best environment to grow. 

Did you know that PS Academy Arizona is helping students with autism & other exceptionalities create a successful future? Find out more about the programs we offer that encourage and empower students. Contact us to find out more and schedule a tour.