Welcoming Everyone to the Table

A Truly Inclusive Thanksgiving:
Welcoming Everyone to the Table

Every person deserves to feel included, supported, and celebrated—every day of the year, especially during the holidays.

Thanksgiving is a time for warmth, connection, and gratitude. For some, it can also bring challenges and a mix of emotions. Families and individuals navigating autism, sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and developmental or behavioral health needs may find that the approach of the holiday feels overwhelming.

With thoughtful preparation, understanding, and flexibility, Thanksgiving can become a truly inclusive and joyful celebration for everyone—children and adults, with and without disabilities alike.

Prepare in Advance 

Predictability can ease anxiety and help everyone enjoy the day. Talking through what to expect and providing visual or verbal structure helps create a sense of calm.

Tips:

• Create a simple visual schedule showing the day’s flow—arrival, greetings, meal, activities, and downtime.
• Use a short social story or outline describing what will happen, who will be there, and what the space might look like.
• Discuss changes to daily routines in advance, such as a later meal or bedtime.
• Pack familiar items—comfort objects, snacks, or favorite activities—to provide reassurance in a new environment.

Comfort is Key

Large gatherings often come with more sound, smell, light, and activity than usual. A few small adjustments can make the environment more comfortable for those with sensory sensitivities.

Tips:

• Create a designated quiet space for breaks. Include headphones, dim lighting, or calming sensory items.
• Minimize strong fragrances from candles or cooking; open a window for fresh air if needed.
• Give gentle transition warnings (“In five minutes, we’ll sit down for dinner”) to avoid sudden changes.
• Offer short sensory breaks, such as a walk or time in a calm area away from the crowd.

Flexible Foods

The Thanksgiving meal is often the centerpiece of the day—but it can also bring sensory and texture challenges. Flexibility and understanding make all the difference.

Tips:

• Include familiar foods alongside traditional dishes to ensure everyone has something they enjoy.
• Introduce new foods slowly and without pressure.
• Use divided plates or separate serving spaces for those who prefer foods not to touch.
• Provide alternate seating options if the main table feels overwhelming.
• Celebrate small successes—trying a new food, sitting for a few minutes, or sharing conversation.

Communicate and Empower Guests

Inclusion is most effective when everyone understands what it means. Preparing guests ahead of time fosters empathy and awareness.

Tips:

• Let family and friends know about any planned supports, such as a quiet area or alternate mealtime.
• Offer simple, compassionate explanations to promote understanding: “Sometimes the noise can be overwhelming, so breaks may help.”
• Encourage participation that feels comfortable—helping set the table, greeting guests, or distributing napkins.
• Respect personal space; inclusion doesn’t mean constant interaction.

Mary Beth Canaday, Executive Director, PA, Adult Behavioral Health, shares, “As we prepare for the holidays at Elwyn, our focus is on person-centered care by honoring each individual’s voice and choice—listening to their preferences, comfort levels, and most importantly involving them in decisions about how they wish to celebrate. It ensures that holiday activities reflect what is meaningful to each person, promoting dignity, joy, and inclusion.”

Redefine Traditions Around Connection 

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to look the same in every home. The goal is to create a holiday centered on belonging, not perfection.

Tips:

• Offer activity choices—crafts, music, outdoor walks, or quiet games.
• Allow flexible participation; some may join for part of the gathering or take breaks as needed.
• Recognize and celebrate small moments of connection as the heart of the day.

With Gratitude

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has supported individuals with diverse abilities to live, learn, work, and thrive in inclusive environments. That same philosophy applies at home and around your holiday table.

This Thanksgiving, we invite you to approach the day with patience, preparation, and heart. When every person feels seen, heard, and valued, the celebration becomes richer for everyone. 

At Elwyn, we are reminded that inclusion is about connection, not perfection. The smallest gestures of patience, understanding, and acceptance can transform the day into something truly special.

Wishing you a warm, joyful, and inclusive Thanksgiving—from all of us at Elwyn. 

Inclusive Thanksgiving Checklist 

Share a visual outline of the day.
Provide a quiet, comfortable retreat space.
Offer familiar foods alongside new ones.
Communicate needs and supports ahead of time.
Allow for flexible participation and breaks.
Keep the focus on gratitude, not “perfect behavior.”