It can be difficult and stressful to have days out if your child suffers from OCD. They may not like using public toilets for example or the obsessions and compulsions may interfere with their enjoyment of an activity. It is important when possible for life to carry on normally but only the family can make that judgement call. Many leisure and entertainment venues recognise the difficulty that disabled children have and make special allowances to ensure these children make the best of their days out. The following are some concessions that qualifying for DLA opens for you. This is by no means an exhaustive list so it is advisable for you to check with the venue you intend to visit before you set on your journey. Proof of receipt of Disability Living Allowance is normally required. The happier you can make your child’s life, the quicker their recovery will be, so take full advantage of these brilliant offers.

You can apply for a Cinema Exhibitor Association (CEA) card which allows the carer in for free when they are with the disabled person. To qualify for this card you would need to be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and there is a small processing fee on application to be paid but this cost is normally recouped after just one use of the card.

Application forms can be collected from all participating cinemas. Most cinema’s are members of the association and you can find which ones participate in your area by using the following link. The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card

Football clubs

Many football clubs across the country offer discounts to disabled children and adults for entry into the stadium. Check before you visit to find out if your team offers discounts and what evidence you will need to provide.

It’s worth a call to your local council house to see if they have discounts for swimming, golf or other leisure activities. It is widely accepted and documented that exercise is great for anyone with a mental health condition so if the child is able to participate then it should be encouraged.

Most major theme parks have concessions for disabled children, ask before you travel to find out what evidence you will need to bring with you. It’s normally the Disability Living Allowance award letter but it’s always worth confirming to avoid any disappointments or difficulties. Children with OCD are often anxious and might find queuing difficult. Many theme parks issue a band to children who have proof of receipt of DLA so they can bypass queues allowing them to go straight on to rides. They often allow a limited number of the child’s friends or their carer to accompany them as the child is not expected to use the rides alone. This can make your child with OCD very popular with siblings on days out!

All of the aforementioned offers are subject to change at the discretion of the owners or management of these companies at any time. OCD-Today cannot accept any responsibility if these offers are no longer available and we would strongly advise that you check the discounts and services available with the venue during the planning stages of your day out before setting off. We hope you have found this information useful and have many fun days out whilst beating OCD. There are many more discounts available to disabled people and this list is by no means intended to be a full guide.

If you offer discounts for disabled people then please contact OCD-Today with your details and we will be happy to include your venue.