Hosting an inclusive birthday party

Four-year-old Noah and three-year-old Eli live with their parents, Rozanna and David. Both Noah and Eli were diagnosed as autistic and Eli is non-verbal. Both boys have several food allergies and are undergoing further genetic testing.

Mum, Rozanna talks about life with her sons and how a friend went the extra mile to create a calming space within a party for them:

“Both boys struggle differently. Eli is a sensory seeker and Noah is sensory avoidant. This makes a lot of different elements of ‘normal’ life challenging. Noah hates loud noises and is over stimulated easily. Whereas Eli needs stimulating environments to regulate himself. As a family, we constantly have to find a balance where both children are happy.

“Eli also uses an adaptive pushchair. That means a lot of places aren’t accessible for him, which further limits things for Noah. Places like woodland walks and nature parks are a good balance for their sensory needs, but it’s often not accessible for Eli’s pushchair.”

A friend creating an inclusive environment and running through the details of an upcoming birthday party in advance, set her family at ease:

“At a birthday party, a friend set up a spare room as a quiet room, which included a space with a den and lights where other children were encouraged to be calm but mostly avoided. So, Noah and Eli had space when it became overwhelming. My friend also ran through food before we arrived, so I knew before hand which items were suitable to feed my children without asking during the party.”