Your go-to guide for a magical (& manageable) holiday season
The holiday season is officially here — how are we holding up? If you’re already mentally juggling food and sensory needs, accessibility tweaks, travel logistics, disrupted sleep, change in routines, and that one relative who insists your child “will love sitting on Santa’s lap,” don’t worry — our holiday survival guide has your back.
It’s our go-to guide to giving ourselves permission to create a season that works for your family — whatever that looks like. But that’s not all. We’ve got more holiday supports for you and your family, from top parent tips to a free visual storybook template!
Read our holiday survival guide→
❄️ More holiday supports for your family ❄️
6 holiday tips, from parents who get it
We asked Undivided Navigators and advocates for their best tips for enjoying holiday celebrations with their kiddos’ unique needs in mind. Here’s one from Undivided Navigator Gabriela:
“We have set up the expectation of NOT watching the kids open their presents” as it “has been very difficult and dysregulating in the past. Prepping family members for not having that expectation and/or reaction sets things up so that others understand what may be difficult for the kids, and how we have adapted what we do to make the experience more enjoyable.”
From gift giving (and gift opening) and family gatherings to travel, seasonal foods, and more, read 5 more parent-tested ways to help make the festivities merry, bright, and disability-friendly! Find our 6 holiday parent tips here→
FREE visual storybook template
Visual stories help take the mystery out of holiday moments. They show kids what’s going on and what to expect in situations that might seem a bit confusing or stressful. Check out our holiday visual storybook template to help you get started! You can download the printable PDF here, or make a copy of the Google doc to digitally customize your own holiday story.
Goal spotlight
If you’re an Undivided member, add the goal “Make a Social Story for my child” to your child’s Roadmap for a step-by-step walkthrough with everything you need to know!
In the news
Our own Lindsay Crain and her family, and Undivided parent Lelah Coppedge, opened up in a new CalMatters article about how California’s proposed special education cuts could shape the future for thousands of students. Read the article here→
Office hours → Undivided account features 💬 Wednesday, December 17, 12:00 p.m. PT
Need help making use of all the features of your Undivided account? Join us on Zoom with Navigator Jessica, who can demo new features, highlight helpful tools, and share all her insider tips for getting the most out of the platform! Not an Undivided member yet? Join here to participate.
Undivided Conversations → 11 Tips for Traveling With a Service Dog ☕ Saturday, December 13, 10:00 a.m. PT
New to flying with a service dog, or just want expert tips? Join us on Facebook page for this re-streamed conversation with Undivided Navigator Meg as she shares 11 essential tips for flying with a service dog, from training techniques to altering your dog’s feeding schedule, and more!
Are you worried about sensory overload for your kiddo around the holiday dinner table? Listen to this advice from autism nutrition specialist Elisa Rocks on our YouTube channel→
What are your favorite disability-friendly holiday traditions? We’d love to hear! Share in our private Facebook group for parents→
IDEA, the law behind special education, just turned 50! Check out this Instagram post to appreciate all the ways IDEA changed education for our kids→
Help families and providers make this holiday season more accessible for everyone! Share Undivided resources on LinkedIn→
Undivided Voices Podcast Episode 12: How Do We Pay For It All?
🎙️ What resources are available to help fund your child’s medications, therapies, equipment, supplies, and other services? Leslie Lobel, Undivided’s Director of Health Plan Advocacy, and Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided’s Public Benefits Specialist, explain the funding options available to parents and how to navigate them. Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and anywhere.
