For parents of visually impaired children, these feelings are even more pronounced. You may be wondering how to navigate the longer days, find accessible activities, and ensure your child feels happy without the structure of school.
We hear you, and you are not alone! That’s why we have gathered some valuable resources, links, and tips specifically to help your visually impaired child make the best of their Summer holidays.
Summer Holiday Top Tips.
- Planning and Preparation are Key. Research and Pre-visit: Before heading out, research destinations (parks, museums, attractions) for accessibility. If possible, do a pre-visit without your child to get a feel for the layout, potential hazards, and accessible features. Take photos or videos to describe the environment to your child beforehand.
- Create a visual and Tactile Schedule. Help your child anticipate activities by creating a schedule using pictures, tactile objects, or large print. This can reduce anxiety and provide a sense of control.
- Pack Smart. Beyond the usual holiday essentials, remember items that can enhance your child’s experience:
- Sensory Toys: Fidget toys, textured balls, or sound-making toys for entertainment.
- Communication Needs When booking accommodation or activities, clearly communicate your child’s visual impairment and any specific needs (e.g. quiet room, accessible routes, assistance).
- Engaging Activities and Experiences Sensory Exploration: Focus on activities that engage other senses.
- Sound: Listen to birdsong, play musical instruments, visit places with distinctive sounds (e.g. waterfalls, bustling markets).
- Touch: Explore different textures (sand, water, leaves, tree bark), engage in messy play (playdough, slime), or visit petting zoos.
- Smell: Visit gardens, bake together, or explore different scents in nature.
- Taste: Cook or bake new recipes together, focusing on different flavours and textures.
- Audio descriptions: Utilise audio-described movies or shows. When visiting new places, provide rich verbal descriptions of what’s around you, using descriptive language to paint a picture for your child. Encourage them to ask questions.
- Adapted game: Modify classic games to be more accessible. For example, use larger, high-contrast balls for outdoor games, or add bells to objects.
- Water Play: Paddling pools, splash pads, or accessible swimming pools can be great fun. Ensure safety with appropriate supervision and flotation devices.
- Safety and Wellbeing Identification: Ensure your child carries some form of identification and that you have a recent photo of them. Consider a medical alert bracelet if applicable.
- Safe Spaces: Identify quiet or less crowded areas where your child can retreat if they become overstimulated or overwhelmed.
- Encourage Independence: Allow your child to do as much as they can independently, providing support and guidance as needed. This builds confidence and self-esteem.
- Self-care for Parents: Seek Support: Connect with other parent carers, either online or in person. Sharing experiences and tips can be invaluable.
- Take Breaks. It’s important to schedule time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes of quiet time.
- Be Flexible. Holidays rarely go exactly as planned. Be prepared to adapt and adjust your expectations.
- Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge and celebrate every positive experience and achievement, no matter how small.
Always remember the goal is to create positive and memorable experiences for your child. By planning, focusing on sensory engagement, and prioritising well-being, you can make the summer holidays enjoyable for everyone.
VI-accessible activities over the summer
Some of our friends and partners in the sight loss community are running brilliant VI-accessible activities this summer. We’ve put together a handy list to help you find their summer activity calendars and see what’s on offer!
- VICTA Activity Calendar: Click here
- Guide Dogs Events: Click here
- Outlook Trust: Click Here
- Wonder Days Experience Gifts: Click Here
- British Blind Sport: Click Here
- Blatchington Court Trust: Click Here
- Henshaws: Click Here
- RSBC: Click Here
- Useful Vision: Click Here
- Visibility Scotland: Click Here
- Wilberforce Trust (Yorkshire): Click Here
- Summit Up Climbing are running free 4-hour climbing camps specifically for children with complex additional needs who live in the Oldham postcode area: Click Here For More Information.
Accessible Holidays
- LOOK Accessible Scarborough Flat: Click Here
- RNIB has a brilliant resource on holidays: Click Here
- Accessible Caravan Holidays in North Wales: Click Here
- Sense Holiday: Click Here
- Calvert Trust Holidays: Click Here
Theme Parks
Merlin Annual Pass offers a complimentary carer pass. They also have an accessibility guide to each of their sites, so you can plan. More details here.
Tip: The Ride Access Card must be completed online at least seven days before your visit. Merlin recommended documentation to get a Ride Access Card is here, which provides a way of communicating your child’s access needs without having to explain each time.
Max Card enables families with disabled children to receive discounts from many UK attractions. Max Card – Disability Days
Magic wand charity apply for a day trip for your family at a Merlin Attraction, funded by the charity. Click here
The Perkins School for the Blind website has a useful article on ‘How do people with vision impairments visit amusement parks?’ Read it here.
Galleries and Museums
Tate Galleries: their website provides information on accessible features, accessible car parks, quiet rooms, and policies for assistance dogs. They also have audio description recordings of artwork. Accessibility | Tate
The British Museum offers free companion tickets, audio announcements equipped with braille signage. Click here
National Portrait Gallery offers free monthly audio-described tours, tactile tours are available in specific exhibitions, and sensory bags are also available. Click Here
Museum of Liverpool’s tactile objects are frequently accompanied by braille labels. Many exhibits are enhanced with smells. Click here
Bentley Priory Museum stands out for its innovative approach for visually impaired children. audio described tours voiced by the actor Ben Willbind, from Horrible Histories. Click here
Zoos and connecting with Wildlife
Always check before visiting if they can accommodate your family’s needs.
London Zoo Summer Events: 11 things to do this summer at London Zoo | London Zoo
Chester Zoo: Upcoming Events | Chester Zoo
Cinema
Check with your local cinema for audio-described showings. Don’t forget to ask about free or discounted tickets for carers. Tip: Get to the show or viewing early and test the headphones. It can be trial and error, but worth it once they are connected and working properly.
Theatre
Vocal Eyes offers audio-described theatre shows across the country. More here.
Shakespeare’s Globe, London, offers audio-described performances via headphones, and at these performances, a Touch Tour is offered before the show where you can go on stage, meet the cast, and have a tactile experience with key set, costume, and props. Assistance Dogs, companions, family, and friends are welcome on Touch Tours.
Ambassador Theatre Group Access Membership scheme.
Other theatres offer audio-described performances, so do check their website for dates and showings.
Leisure Centres
Some Local Authorities offer free swimming sessions for kids during holiday times.
Access to Leisure: Check with your local council to see if they provide free / discounted activities for kids during the summer.
Holiday Clubs
Your Local Authority should have opportunities for SEND children and their families. Search for short breaks information and holiday clubs.
From all of us at LOOK, we wish you and your family a wonderful and safe summer. May it be filled with joy, relaxation, and many happy memories.
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