A sensory kit for travel and appointments: what to pack

What goes in a sensory kit for travel?

A sensory kit is a small bag of things that make noise, light and waiting easier to bear, packed so you can reach it without thinking.

The National Autistic Society lists ear defenders, sensory or fidget toys and other items among things autistic people have found helpful. You do not need all of it. Start with the problem you have most often: sound, light, waiting, or not being understood. The five items below each deal with one.

How do you choose the items?

Choose by how you will use them in a rush, not by how they look on a shelf.

• Reach. Ear defenders in the bottom of a rucksack are no use on a loud platform. Put the things you need fastest on the outside.
• Silence. A kit that makes noise defeats its own point. Tangle Jr. is quiet and wipes clean.
• Fold. Ear defenders that fold take less room, but the Vanderfields listing did not show a fold, so check before buying if size matters.
• Rating. The Vanderfields title says 35dB at 2kHz, which is not the same as an SNR figure. If you need protection from very loud noise, look for a clear EN 352 or SNR figure.
• Wash and wipe. Anything that goes in a bag gets touched. Wipe-clean items last longer.

How do you get help at stations and on trains?

Book Passenger Assist if you can, wear a Sunflower lanyard if you want to, and arrive early if you cannot book.

National Rail says to book as far ahead as possible and that train companies accept requests up to 2 hours before your journey. You can use the Passenger Assistance app, the website, call 0800 022 3720, or text 60083 from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. You still need a valid ticket, and National Rail advises buying it first.

Network Rail says every train operator in Britain recognises the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Wearing the lanyard lets you discreetly tell staff you may need extra support or more time. You do not have to wear one. If you have not booked, Network Rail says to arrive at least 20 minutes before your train and ask for help. If booked help is not provided, you can claim redress from the operator.

What about appointments?

Tell the place before you go, and ask for what you need.

An NHS trust leaflet for autistic patients suggests telling reception before the appointment so they can offer a quiet room to wait in. It also says a person can wait in their car or outside and be contacted when the professional is ready, and that the trust should agree how you will be called in: by phone, a screen or the receptionist. It says that under the Equality Act 2010, services must make "reasonable adjustments" for autistic people.

That is one trust's leaflet, not a national NHS rule, so practices differ. Ask at booking. A short written note of what helps can save you explaining it again at each visit.

What should a child's kit hold?

A child's kit needs the same five jobs done, with items that suit their age.

For ear protection, the Alpine Muffy Kids are listed for ages 5 to 16, with up to 25 decibels of reduction, an adjustable foldable headband and a weight of 100g, for £19.99 on Hearing Aid Accessories UK. Younger children need a different product; our ear defenders for kids guide covers them. Tangle Jr. is listed for ages 4 and over and is not suitable under 36 months because of small parts. Let a child pack their own bag where you can, so they know where things are and have chosen what comes.

Put a picture or a short written plan of the journey in the bag too. It answers "what happens next" before the child has to ask, and a printed list weighs nothing.

A short checklist before you leave

Run through this the day before, not on the platform.

1. Book assistance if you want it. National Rail says to book as far ahead as possible.
2. Buy your ticket first. National Rail advises this before requesting assistance.
3. Charge anything with a battery, and put a cable in the bag.
4. Put the fast items on the outside: ear defenders, lanyard, fidget.
5. Write down what helps, in two lines, for staff or reception to read.
6. Plan the quiet bit. Look for a seat near the end of a carriage, or a quieter waiting area, so you have somewhere to go.

Keep the list short. A sensory kit that takes an hour to pack will stay in a cupboard.

Things to know

• A lanyard is a signal. It is not a pass to skip queues or a legal entitlement. It tells staff you may need more time.
• Check what you can take on a plane. Hand luggage rules cover electronic devices and liquids; see our travel kit guide for airports.
• Our checks have limits. We could not load the full Vanderfields or Manta specifications, so the ratings and price on those are from the listing titles and the file. We have not tested any item here.
• Ear defenders are for loud places. They are not for wearing all day, and you should be able to hear announcements and traffic when it matters. Take them off to listen for platform alerts.