Holiday Tips for Families Supporting a Person with Disability

School holidays and the Christmas period change everything at once – routines, schedules, food, noise levels and who is in the house. For many families supporting a person with disability, that is a lot to hold together.

A bit of planning goes a long way. Here is what tends to help.

Protect the anchors of the routine

You will not keep the whole routine, and you do not need to. Pick three or four anchors and hold them steady: wake time, medication times, a familiar meal, and the bedtime wind-down. Everything else can move around them.

If a regular weekday program stops for a few weeks, try to replace it with something at the same time of day rather than leaving a hole.

Say what is coming

Surprise is harder than change. Use a visual calendar, a simple written list, or photos of the people who will be there. Go over it in the morning of a big day. It also helps to name the plan for leaving: "we will stay for an hour, then go home and watch the show."

Plan sensory-friendly outings

• Go early. Shops, pools and events are calmer in the first hour.
• Scout a quiet spot before you need it – the car, a side room, a park bench.
• Pack the kit: headphones, sunglasses, a favourite snack, a fidget, a change of clothes.
• Choose shorter and more often over one big day.
• Check for sensory-friendly sessions. Many cinemas and centres run them during holidays.

Sort support hours early

Public holidays affect availability and cost. Book the shifts you want well before mid-December, and be clear with your provider about which days matter most. Ask now:

• Which of my regular workers are away and who is covering?
• How do public holiday rates affect my budget?
• Is there after-hours support if something goes wrong?

Empower You Support Services provides 24/7 support, including overnight and public holidays, so families in the Ballarat region are not left without a plan on the days that matter.

Make gatherings easier

Brief relatives before they arrive. A short message works: what helps, what does not, and how to greet the person well. Give a specific job to someone who wants to help – it is easier than a vague offer.

Arrive a little early so the room fills up around you rather than walking into a wall of noise. And give yourself permission to leave when it is time.

Mixed-ability activities that usually work

• Backyard water play on a hot day
• Baking or decorating something together
• A drive to look at Christmas lights, from the comfort of the car
• A picnic at the Botanical Gardens or a lap of Lake Wendouree
• Board games, music, or a shared movie afternoon

Look after the carers too

Respite over the holidays is not a luxury – it is what makes the rest of the season possible. Even a few hours of support so you can shop, sleep or sit down properly is worth arranging.

If you need extra support over the holiday period, talk to us early and we will work out a plan with you.