Creating Inclusive Holiday Magic: A Guide to Hosting a Neuro-Inclusive Festive Party
Christmas and the festive period are an opportunity to get together with your employees and colleagues to celebrate the successes and hard work from the year and look ahead to the next one. As organisations prepare for this year’s festivities, don’t let neuro-inclusion be an afterthought.
Making your events neuro-inclusive will ensure you create opportunities for everyone to celebrate, in a way that best suits them. Getting neurodivergent individuals involved in the planning is a great way to ensure that the activities are neuro-inclusive.
We’ve put together some top tips to help you plan a fun and festive party where everyone can be considered and feel included.
Try to plan your events for the end of the day
This gives individuals the chance to opt-out if they want to after the working day. It’s important to bear in mind that although some neurotypical individuals may find it easy to switch from their flow of work into socialising, some neurodivergent individuals may find it more challenging.
Give individuals as much notice as possible about the event
This will enable your employees and colleagues to plan ahead. You should also offer reasonable adjustments for individuals who may have challenges with elements of the travel logistics, such as wanting to travel in by themselves rather than with other members of their team. Equally, some individuals who are anxious about public transport may find it more comfortable to travel at off-peak times.
Consider people's preferences when making location arrangements
Some individuals may prefer to be in smaller groups at events, or to have their own space. Having a variety of sensory-friendly spaces will help support neuro-inclusion. This can include smaller breakout rooms, quiet spaces, the option to attend virtually, and walking conversations.
Factor in breaks
As fun as parties and festive events can be, with so much going on it is important to give people the chance to step out and take a break. Ensure you have a suitable space where individuals can go to have a quiet break and stretch their legs and try to avoid lengthy presentations to help facilitate concentration.
Be considerate of sensory overstimulation
This is especially relevant for any 'after parties' at restaurants or other social establishments where it is likely to be loud and crowded. Busy places, loud Christmas music, bright decorative lights and strong scents may be distracting and overpowering for some individuals, which could minimise their ability to enjoy the event. To be neuro-inclusive, ask your teams how they feel about the decorations or venue in advance, and offer noise-cancelling headphones if music is being played during the working day.
Make the event optional
Even with steps to ensure your event is neuro-inclusive, some individuals may still prefer not to go, so we recommend making these types of events ‘non-mandatory’ if possible. You could still include non-attendees in the festivities, by doing things such as a virtual get-together, or sending out a small gift such as a shopping voucher towards some festive treats.
What can I learn from holding a neuro-inclusive Christmas party?
After the event, it can be beneficial to send out a feedback form or survey to help gather honest opinions on what went well and aspects that could be improved upon. Giving the opportunity for anonymous feedback will help you to gain valuable insight for planning future work events and ensuring they are neuro-inclusive.
If you’re looking for support with how to make your workplace environment more neuro-inclusive, Lexxic are here to help! Why not book in a chat with us about our Neurodiversity Audits? They are the perfect solution if you’re looking to:
Find out how neuro-inclusive a specific aspect of your business is
Get support on implementing the practical recommendations from one of our neurodiversity experts
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