Creative activities and youth groups for children and young people with SEND

Accessible art, theatre and music activities, local youth groups and online communities for disabled people.

Children and young people can express their creativity by taking part in art workshops, plays, art performances or music sessions with other disabled people. 

Museums and arts

Bristol Museums’ staff are trained to help families with autism and M Shed has an art course for people with low level mental health issues using museum exhibits to inspire creativity. 

Find inspiration by attending exhibitions by other disabled people:

• Artists First is an art group run by artists with learning difficulties, who exhibit their work regularly

Theatre and performance

• The Misfits Theatre Company is a performance art company with creative workshops led by people with learning difficulties, for young people aged 18+. 
• Misfits also run the Rhythm of the Night club night for people with learning difficulties, aged 18+
• The Travelling Light Theatre Company have two drama groups for children and young disabled people aged 7+ and 16+

Find inspiration from other disabled people performance groups:

• Extraordinary Bodies is a professional circus company by a diverse group of artists 

Music

• MusicSpace is a music therapy charity for disabled people of all ages helping them build relationships
• Drake Music have technologies to make music accessible to all 

Local youth groups 

Children and young people can join a local youth group to build confidence, make friends and learn new skills

• WECIL run youth groups for disabled and non-disabled people, aged 13 to 19 and young people with learning difficulties up to the age of 25
• WECIL offer a pen pal scheme to make friends with young disabled people in Australia
• Young Bristol run inclusive youth clubs and outdoor activities for 8 to 19 years olds in Bristol 

Online communities

There are blogs and forums which are made by and for disabled people:

• Scope has a disability online community
• top 100 disability blogs by views on Equalitytime

You can find tips and advice on the Online safety for young people with SEND web page.