![\"Harvey](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Harvey-1-scaled-1024x577.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMaking high street advent calendars accessible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The run-up to Christmas is always busy, so making your own advent calendar this year might not be possible. Luckily, there are some fairly easy ways to make high street advent calendars more accessible for disabled people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might be familiar with Harvey, the star of this year’s Christmas appeal<\/a>. Harvey loves chocolate, but cardboard calendars aren\u2019t always accessible for people with visual impairments. Finding the doors can be tricky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harvey is deafblind, so Kim, his mum, adds braille numbers<\/a> to his Advent calendar so he can independently find his own chocolate each day. But you could also use tactile numbers or printed number cards to help with number recognition and matching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there isn’t a huge selection of accessible Advent calendars readily available, there are a few high street retailers helping to make Christmas traditions inclusive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advent calendars don\u2019t have to be rectangular and made of cardboard. There are lots of readymade styles<\/a> that you can fill at home. Choose from doors, drawers, pockets or bags, depending on the recipient. You could even gift wrap each item individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add tactile indicators, textured gift tags, raised numbers, braille dots or jingling bells to make each day easy to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making your own advent calendar means you can tailor the design and content to the recipient. Once you\u2019ve chosen your calendar style, it\u2019s time for the fun part \u2013 filling it with treats!<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make your calendar super sensory, why not think about the Senses when gathering your items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christmas is an expensive time of year, but making a DIY sensory advent calendar doesn\u2019t have to be costly. Sensory activities are a great way to count down to Christmas from the comfort of your home, without spending a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Write down 25 activities on strips of paper, fold them up and add them to a bowl. Give them a shake and then take out a fun activity every day. Or, just make a list of 25 things you\u2019d like to do throughout December and tick them off as you go. You could do some Christmas baking, watch your favourite festive film, get crafty making cards and decorations or go on a winter sensory walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However you choose to count down to Christmas, remember that small adaptations can ensure that disabled people can experience the joy of Christmas. Together, we can make festive traditions accessible for everyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harvey’s brothers can play with any toy they unwrap. But for children like Harvey, who is deafblind, it\u2019s not that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donate now to stock up our sensory toy library in time for Christmas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Pick a style that works for you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Christmas-line-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFilling your sensory advent calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Touch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Taste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Sight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Hearing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SenseSW_Xmas24-51-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFocus on sensory activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Harvey-hand-baking-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGift a child a sensory toy this Christmas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n