The holiday season is a time for joy, but for people with brain injury and autistic people it can also bring challenges. Crowded stores, bright lights, noisy gatherings and busy airports can lead to stress, fatigue, and discomfort.
That’s where the National Assistance Card can help. By showing your Card to others – such as shop assistants, bartenders, airport staff, or family and friends – you can communicate your needs quickly and seek understanding or assistance when feeling overwhelmed.
Attending events with your National Assistance Card
Even close friends and family can sometimes forget about invisible disabilities, and the National Assistance Card can help to remind them and foster greater understanding.
Cardholder Lizz Hills shared how the Card has helped her feel more confident about going to events by allowing her to “own up to a brain injury.” With the Card, she knows she can communicate her needs more comfortably, no matter what challenges she might be experiencing.
“Having this tool and then being able to have conversations with my friends and family that might not identify me as a disabled person with a brain injury has been really helpful and second to that I now have a card that if I'm feeling a bit wobbly and I'm going to a family picnic I can put around my neck and it's just that lovely visual. So, it's enabled me just to go, well, ‘give it a go if you get in trouble, they'll understand’.”
Travelling with National Assistance Card
If you’re travelling by plane this holiday season, your National Assistance Card can be a useful tool. Show your Card to airport staff if you need more time to check in, feel disoriented, or require assistance navigating multiple gates and terminals.
You can also use the Card on public transport, such as buses, trains, trams, ferries and taxis.
Other tips for a safer and more relaxed holiday season
Here are some other tips to help make your holiday more enjoyable:
- Look for quiet shopping hours: Many shopping centres and retailers across Australia offer low-sensory shopping experiences during the holidays. Check ahead to see if quiet hours are available. This Synapse article provides helpful advice on navigating holiday shopping.
- Plan ahead: Create a shopping list in advance to minimise decision-making stress.
- Use noise-reducing headphones: These can help you reduce noise levels and stay more concentrated at events and parties
- Wear lightly tinted sunglasses to reduce glare from bright or flashing lights
- Communicate with your hosts: You can ask your hosts about plans in advance and let them know that you might need to leave early. It will help you feel comfortable if you need to get home or to a quiet place and also help avoid misunderstandings
- Set boundaries: Remember that it’s okay to say "no" and you can choose to celebrate in ways that feel right for you.
The National Assistance Card wishes you a safe, happy, and stress-free holiday season!
Click here for more information about who is eligible to apply for a National Assistance Card.
