Understanding disability
Supported by National Autistic Society
Step one: identify the need
Overwhelming art
Create colourful collages to show how it feels for someone to be overwhelmed and think about what we can all do to help.
Ages: 8 to 14 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityWhat would you do?
Explore our personal reactions and judgements towards situations and how more understanding, care and respect can go a long way.
Ages: 8 to 18 | Takes: 15 minutes
Run this activitySpot the difference
Find the ‘overwhelming’ differences in these pictures and think about how such small changes could have a big impact.
Ages: 8 to 18 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityEquality ball
Step into the shoes of somebody with different abilities in a game of volleyball like no other.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityHow do you see the world?
Try to draw your partner’s thoughts and learn about how people with sensory differences see the world.
Ages: 6 to 14 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityUnspoken rules
Can you work out the rules of a new game as you play it? Think about how society’s unspoken rules can hold people back.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 10 minutes
Run this activityStep two: plan action
How autism-friendly are you?
Assess your meeting place, then plan to make it even better.
Ages: 8 to 18 | Takes: 35 minutes
Run this activityThe autism-friendly charter
Share your understanding with the community and tell them how to support autistic people.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 1 hour
Run this activityWrite a letter, make a difference
Write to your MP to shine a light on challenges disabled people face in your community.
Ages: 8 to 18 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityPlan a befriending day
Plan an inclusive and welcoming day to show your community that your group is open to everyone.
Ages: 10½ to 18 | Takes: 1 hour 30 minutes
Run this activityMeet the local supporters
Arrange to visit a local disability service and get their perspective on what needs to change.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 1 hour
Run this activityJourney for autism-friendly change
Work together to plan all the parts of the journey towards a more autism-friendly community. Which barriers will you change?
Ages: 8 to 18 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityStep three: take action
Community autism pledge
Encourage local businesses to commit to being autism-friendly and create a more accessible and inclusive community.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 1 hour
Run this activityCoffee for change
Grab a coffee with decision makers. Are they autism-friendly? What will they help to change?
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 30 minutes
Run this activityA day for everyone
Put on an inclusive community day to show your local area how simple changes make communities accessible for all.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 4 hours
Run this activityBe an autism-friendly champion
Inspire local businesses to become autism-friendly by showing them what needs to change.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 1 hour
Run this activityStep four: learn and make more change
Storyboard your change
Decide how you’ll make more change and create a storyboard to show your plans.
Ages: 10½ to 18 | Takes: 2 hours
Run this activityBecome an access champion
Use all you’ve learned and pledge to take actions to create a more autism-friendly world.
Ages: 6 to 10½ | Takes: 2 hours
Run this activityStep five: tell the world
Write a letter for better
Celebrate your achievement, write to your local newspaper, and encourage others to take action.
Ages: 10½ to 18 | Takes: 2 hours
Run this activityTrummies treasure hunt
Make your own characters to help other people to learn about autism and the action you’ve taken.
Ages: 6 to 10½ | Takes: 2 hours
Run this activityMap your autism-friendly community
Create a map of the autism-friendly spaces in your community and help others see what more needs to change.
Ages: 6 to 18 | Takes: 2 hours
Run this activityThemes
With a little help from our friends at WWF, we’re fighting to protect our environment by restoring thriving habitats, bringing species back from the brink, and tackling root causes such as climate change.
Partnering with Crisis and Simon Community NI, we’re enhancing young people’s understanding of the many factors that contribute to homelessness, and showing them how they can help end the problem for good.
We’re partnering with Save the Children to combat stereotypes, raise awareness of the issues displaced children face, build welcoming communities, and connect with Scouts in conflict-affected areas.
We’re working alongside Mind, SAMH and Inspire, to empower Scouts to take good care of their mental health, now and in the future.
Supported by the British Red Cross, we’re showing kindness to those who most need it at home and overseas – and we’re encouraging others to do the same too.