Holidays for Autistic People and Hidden Disabilities

Autism Friendly Holidays

We take great pride in offering accessible holiday accommodation and are excited to share more details about how our accessible holiday cottages cater to everyone's needs. This page's focus is on autism-friendly holidays, providing "relaxed, self-catering holidays in a safe, non-judgemental, peaceful environment" for families with autism or complex behaviors.

Our cottages frequently welcome families with various disabilities, learning disabilities, and autism, including ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. We host children who attend special schools and adults living in supported housing. The natural surroundings offer endless opportunities for adventure and exploration, with the forest and beach nearby, making our cottages an ideal base for your stay.

All the families we host share a common desire for a relaxed holiday that suits the entire family. We understand the challenges parents and carers face in finding autism-friendly holidays that meet everyone's needs. Often, parents and carers feel anxious about being judged by others or not meeting their dependents' expectations, hoping everything will go perfectly. While we can't promise perfection, we will do our utmost to provide a memorable experience.

To make your stay even more enjoyable, we have created a welcome sheet for you. We also recommend sharing "Alex and Rosie's Adventures in the New Forestt," written by Autism and Nature , along with their colouring Book. We are happy to print these materials and have them ready in the cottage upon your arrival.

We have partnered with Spectrum Holiday to offer accommodation booked through them with a Sensory Box ready for your arrival. You can see this on display at Little Bench below, and it can be set up in any of our cottages for you.

Standard to our cottages:

• Level access throughout with all accommodation on the ground floor.

• Quiet location.

• Windows that can be locked as required.

• External doors locked inside with a turn lock (fire regulations) and can be fitted with an alarm that sounds when the door is opened.

• Garden Bench has a private garden; the gate can be climbed over, so supervision is recommended.

• Password-protected WiFi as standard.

• Open spaces: a park at the end of the road and a recreation field behind—plenty of room to run and let off energy.

• Height adjustable profiling beds with side rails as standard. These can be removed, and we recommend unplugging the bed if the rising and reclining action is not required.

• Supermarket shopping can be arranged by you, with delivery on the morning of your arrival day, so it's in the cottage on your arrival.

• A range of additional disability equipment is available.

• Both hosts are familiar with BSL (British Sign Language) and qualified to Stage 1. Helen has also completed Makaton levels 1-8.

• We are familiar with the sunflower scheme for hidden disabilities and have lanyards available if you forget yours.

Explore the area - if you like to explore we have a variety of ideas highlighted on our web site, if you have a particular interest then please let us know and that may be other places that we are aware of but have not listed yet. This is a great place to plan ahead so you can sit down before your visit and plan the best way to spend your holiday.

• A photoshoot can be arranged with a local photographer
• A varied program of activities for everyday of your holiday
• A guide to Lymington and eating out
• A guide to the New Forest and more adventuorous activities
• A guide to easy day trips from our cottages
• A guide to various walk in the area
• A guide to seasonal events

We are always on hand to help plan your holiday - we are happy to answer your calls or for you to send an email - there are no "wrong questions" we are happy to answer and to think about the reply if we don't know or no one has asked that already.

For a unique holiday experience Crazy Creatures can offer Educational & fun encounters with amazing creatures from all over the world in your holiday cottage garden! They offer unique ways of safely viewing, handling within regulation guidelines, and lots of interactive ideas for fun and learning for all ages! From giant bugs to tortoises, lizards, snakes and owls! Their ‘creaturemobile’ is fully equipped for mobile visits for families or small groups - bringing the fascinating world of wildlife to your door for a unique & memorable display! This could be the perfect holiday treat... arrange Crazy Creatures to come along to the cottage and offer you a unique encounter and invite along our photographer at the same time... the memories can be captured forever! You would need to book with them direct.

If you book through Spectrum holidays then we include a Spectrum Pack (see above photos and video) which includes a visual resource park, a range of sensory toys and lights and a visual rescsource pack - you can find more details here: Spectrum Holidays. This is not available on #BookDirect holidays.

To book please choose the cottage most suitable for your needs. Little Bench sleeps 2 (one bedroom), Bench Cottage sleeps 4 (2 bedrooms and they both share a garden which has direct access to the road, Garden Bench sleeps 4 (2 bedrooms) with private enclosed garden and fully detached.