Neurodivergent families struggle to find appropriate holiday accommodation | UK News

A mother who said she struggled to find a suitable campsite for her autistic son is planning to set up her own.

Janatha Carden, from Bala, Gwynedd, runs short breaks for neurodivergent families, and said finding appropriate accommodation could be challenging.

An academic said the tourism and hotel industry did not really understand neurodiversity, and often individuals were not trained properly.

The Welsh government said inclusive tourism was essential to ensure “Wales is a welcoming destination for all”.

Ms Carden recalled being unable to find anywhere she could take her son for a much-needed break.

She said: “He was badly bullied on the estate where I lived several years ago and I tried to find a campsite in the area where I could pitch my caravan… so we could escape at the weekends and try to restore his freedom and find new friends.

“I couldn’t find anywhere within an hour’s drive.”

The 50-year-old described her son as “a runner and a climber” and said she needed to find a fully fenced location, adding lots of families had told her they also faced this issue.

She said during the pandemic she had the idea to create her own site that was secure, with play equipment in the centre and pitches around to give parents the optimal chance for relaxation.

“Respite is so important,” she added.

She currently organises camping trips for families on a site outside Bala but has secured lottery funding to help create her own permanent site in the future.

“Our vision is to create the UK’s first caravan and camping park exclusively for families with neurodiverse and autistic members here in north Wales.”

Over the past three summers Toni Hall has been coming to the camp with her family.

The camp is only five minutes from where they live, but she said it had been “amazing” for her family of seven.

“I get quite anxious going to a campsite or going away somewhere because I don’t know how we’re going to react and how other parents are going to be watching us… here we don’t have to worry at all.”

The 32-year-old, who has a daughter with Down’s syndrome and a son awaiting neuro and cognitive assessments, said the campsite “facilitates everybody”.

“They feel so calm and included. Inclusion is a massive thing,” she added.

Lee Morgan, whose seven-year-old daughter Liliarna is autistic, said preparing for the summer holidays could take months.

“That six-week period is a stressful period, and it doesn’t start with the six weeks. It starts months before, because you’re reliant on your support network,” he said.

“If you haven’t got a support network, it’s an incredibly stressful, difficult time.”

The father said balancing work, other children and other commitments can affect the mental health of many parents.

“A lot of special educational needs (SEN) parents are on the brink… many of them are depressed, definitely stressed and I know many of them have suffered mental health problems,” he added.

He said while some businesses do try to be more inclusive, offering sensory rooms or quiet sessions, he would like to see leadership from the Welsh government on the issue.

Naiomi Flewers runs SEN holiday facilities in Porthcawl, Bridgend.

As a mother of four with additional needs, she said she could “fully appreciate” how overwhelming holidays can be.

She said: “I would often worry, thinking have I packed enough toys to keep the children entertained? What if there’s no internet? How can we secure the doors and windows? Can I keep them safe?

“These questions were enough to get my anxiety racing before I’ve even booked a holiday.”

The 38-year-old said despite a rising demand there seemed to be a lack of accessible playgrounds, inclusive holiday parks and attractions.

“Feedback from our families has only emphasised the need for more provision like ourselves, with the majority of guests stating it’s their first ever family holiday as they have never found somewhere they were confident could meet their families’ needs.”

Prof Brian Garrod from Swansea University also said the Welsh government could be doing more to encourage inclusion.

The academic, who has researched the holiday experiences of families with neurodivergent children, said it was an overlooked area.

He said: “I think personally that it ought to be something that becomes statutory in the long term, part of the Equalities Act.

“The Equalities Act already provides for businesses to have a duty to make sure equality of provision but at the moment we’re not getting that with families with neurodivergent children.”

Prof Garrod explained it was challenging for families to find somewhere suitable, with many forming an “almost underground network” sharing recommendations of establishments which were “good” for their children.

The Welsh government said it worked closely with the industry to ensure inclusivity and accessibility were considered as “part of the high-quality experiences that bring people here”.

It said Visit Wales could support in educating the sector to understand neurodiversity and share relevant information or training on request.

“We are keen to work with industry partners, academic experts, and neurodivergent communities to explore how best to embed inclusive practices.”