Ready or not, the holiday season is here. With that in mind, ACIL decided to dedicate this month’s ACIL Happenings article to how to be inclusive during the holidays.
An article in Forbes Magazine found here, which explores ways to make the holidays more disability friendly emphasizes the importance of actually extending invitations to those with disabilities. Sometimes people assume that people with disabilities can’t or won’t want to attend family gatherings, office parties, or holiday-focused community events. Often, that is not the case. When in doubt, simply ask. Never make assumptions about what a person with a disability can and cannot do.
Secondly, the article in Forbes Magazine reminds people to actually be prepared for people to accept any invitation extended to them. No matter how warm a welcome is extended, people with disabilities are going to feel unwanted, or uncomfortable at the very least, if accessibility and accommodations are not considered. For example, those who use mobility devices need entrances with no steps and/or a ramp, wider pathways or an open floor plan to be to navigate safely indoors, and a safe, accessible place to use the restroom.
Those who are blind or have low vision need to be clearly introduced by name to each person they may encounter at a gathering or event. Furthermore, it is recommended that guests be asked to state their name before talking while at the event or gathering so that any people who are blind can know who is speaking. Along these lines, it is also recommended that guests be asked to announce themselves when they are entering or exiting a room so that anyone who is blind is made aware of it. According to an article in Business Insider found here providing accurate detailed descriptions can go a long way in helping those who are blind or have low vision feel included. While this makes sense to most people, many do not realize that descriptions of everything from holiday decorations to food offerings is helpful. When going into a public place with someone who is blind, it is best to ask for a guided tour with audio descriptions.
When someone who is deaf or hard of hearing is invited to a gathering, it is recommended that the host ensure good lighting for lip reading purposes, according to a page on the National Deaf Center website found here. Keeping that in mind, a person who is deaf or hard of hearing should be seated where everyone in the room is visible. Remember to use visual cues or tap the shoulder of a person who is deaf when trying to get their attention. Enable closed captioning on the television before any guests who are deaf arrive. Consider hiring an interpreter, a qualified speech to text service, or a live caption app if the person or people who are deaf believe such a service may be needed.
A guide on how to make the holidays inclusive created by Goodwill Easter Seals Northern California found here give recommendations as to how make sure any guests with Autism Spectrum Disorder feel included. Creating a quiet zone where guests can go if they are feeling overwhelmed or simply need a break is another great way to help those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or sensory related disabilities feel acknowledged and included. In addition to creating a quiet zone, consider limiting sensory triggers such as bright, flashing lights and strong smells from your gathering. In addition to taking sensory triggers into account, it is advisable to ask your guests if they have any food allergies before your gathering and take any allergies into consideration when creating a menu.
If you want your holiday gathering to be truly inclusive, you should not only make it accessible to people with all types of disabilities, you should also make people from different cultures and religions feel welcome. According to an article in Forbes Magazine about respectful cultural observations found here, one key to doing this is to allow those who practice different religions or people who are from different cultures time to educate others about their cultural and religious traditions at your gathering. Furthermore, people of different cultures and religions are likely to feel more welcome if a variety of food including vegetarian and kosher options are offered. Additionally, offering guests who practice different religions or come from different cultures the chance to have input in your celebration or gathering by suggesting activities or bringing food and/or music to share with everyone can help them feel included.
ACIL staff hope that this article will help you have a happier, more inclusive holiday season. If you take nothing else from this article, please remember that if you have any questions about how to best include someone in your holiday gathering, the best way to handle that is to ask that person what can be done to help them feel welcome and included. Listen closely and take their response into consideration when planning your gathering.
