A Cerebral Palsy-Friendly Activity Guide
It’s that time of year again when the air’s getting colder and the leaves are falling off the trees. For some people, it’s not just a new season, but the opportunity to enjoy autumn activities. For adults living with cerebral palsy, picking activities to do this autumn can require some extra thinking. Luckily, this guide has been put together to help you find some exciting things to do this autumn in the West Midlands and at home.
A Little More About What Cerebral Palsy Is
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that describes a group of lifelong conditions affecting coordination, movement, and posture. It’s caused as a result of damage to the brain that develops before, during or not long after birth.
According to CP Sport, around 160,000 people in the UK have cerebral palsy, and this includes approximately 30,000 children and 130,000 adults.
Autumn Activities
You may think that most autumn activities are just for children, but that’s far from the truth…
Cannock Chase Forest
Peak colour is predicted from late September to mid-October this year for Cannock Chase Forest. Located north of Birmingham, this location is adored by autumn lovers for its yellow, fiery orange, and copper colours.
Ladyhill Trail can be found at Cannock Chase Forest, and is a 1-mile-long (1.6km) circular route that is mostly flat, easy, and suitable for wheelchairs. This trail has lots to discover, such as a Gruffalo sculpture, fairy trees, and an open space for play, games, and picnics.
Black Country Museum
Step back in time and learn about the very first industrialised landscapes in Britain. This open-air museum has reconstructed shops, houses, and industrial areas, creating a memorable day out.
On October 18th, you can also experience their Festival of Light, where the museum will have live music, a lantern procession, Rangoli workshops and more! The museum is also hosting Halloween Nights on the 25th, 26th, 30th and 31st of October, the perfect spooky evening for families.
The Black Country Museum has accessibility features around the museum, like ramps, adapted toilets, an access vehicle, and wheelchair hire. They also have an access guide on their website and an accessibility map where you can find out more about on-site accessibility features.
Pumpkins R Us
If you’re excited to carve pumpkins this year, consider getting them from Pumpkins R Us. They offer a variety of pumpkins in different sizes and colours, all grown by them on a nearby farm. They also have a Halloween shop and a cafeé where you can have a warm drink and a snack.
Pumpkins R Us is wheelchair-friendly, as the site is completely flat and has aluminium matting pathways in both indoor and outdoor areas.
They have disabled toilet facilities, and are happy to give people parking closer to the entrance if needed. It’s important to note that their displays have flashing lights and sudden noises/movements.
Activities To Do Inside
As well as getting out and about in the West Midlands, there are lots of autumn activities to do at home!
● Making decorations: One of the best parts about autumn is decorating your house ready for the season, so why not create your own designs? Garland made out of leaves to go on the walls in the living room, and an Autumn wreath to go on the front door can help your house feel ready for the season. For individuals with cerebral palsy, arts and crafts offer several benefits, like improving coordination and fine motor skills, increasing confidence, and enhancing self-expression.
● Baking: Another thing people look forward to when autumn hits is baking sweet treats, like pumpkin pie, chocolate muffins, and apple crumble. There are aids that can help people who have cerebral palsy with baking, such as non-slip cutting boards and utensils with easy-grip handles.
● Autumn puzzle: If you’ve ever done a puzzle before, you’ll know that it’s something that will keep you occupied for hours on end, and there are many autumn designs out there. You can find them in charity shops, online, or sometimes in the supermarket. There are several benefits of doing a puzzle for people with cerebral palsy, like improving fine motor skills, promoting problem-solving, and building confidence.
Final Thoughts
It’s time to start planning your Autumn activities and get ready for the season ahead! At Cerebral Palsy Midlands, we support adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in the West Midlands area. We believe in empowering adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. You can find out more about what we do on our website.
This blog was written by Rosie Buckley from ContentCoffee.com
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