Adam Nielsen wants to help people create memories and spread festive cheer
A disability advocate and campaigner from Hull wants to make sure young people with disabilities and their families do not miss out on the magic this Christmas. Adam Nielsen is organising the city’s first SENDsational Christmas market in December, an event he describes as “a joyful, inclusive celebration designed with accessibility at its heart”.
Podcaster Adam, who has autism, is the founder of The SEND Life HEY blog and online shop, where people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can “feel seen, supported, and empowered”. The market is one of his latest ideas and it will take place at the Priory Inn, Priory Road, Hull, on Monday, December 22, from 1pm to 6pm.
In a post about the event, Adam said: “Not every festive event is truly festive for everyone. This time of year, steps, narrow paths, and crowded spaces can shut disabled people out, leaving many without the chance to feel the magic of Christmas.
“But ours is different. Because when disabled people are part of the planning, something SENDsational happens. We create joy, access, and community, together.
“So come and join us this December for our SENDsational Christmas Market, designed with inclusion at its heart.”
Adam said visitors to the market should expect festive fun, sensory-friendly activities, relaxed Christmas film screenings and “a welcoming space for everyone to feel the magic of the season”. He said: “I’ve always wanted to do an event like this, especially at Christmas.
“Young people with disabilities and their families can miss out on the magic, it can be an isolating and overwhelming time.” Via his The SEND Life HEY Facebook page, Adam has been inviting donations and also appealing for volunteers to help make the event a resounding success.
Followers may have seen that the Christmas market was originally planned for late November, in Princes Quay shopping centre in Hull, but the date clashed with some of the centre’s own Christmas activities. The Priory Inn will host the market event, which will include festive crafts, a scavenger hunt and face painting, and will be free entry for visitors.
Adam is keen to expand his reach beyond East Yorkshire and to connect with more SEND communities across the UK. He has launched a GoFundMe appeal to “grow an inclusive space for SEND awareness”.
On the appeal page he said: “I know how overwhelming and isolating the world can feel when it isn’t designed with neurodiversity in mind. That’s why I started my blog and online shop: to raise awareness, share honest experiences, and create a space where people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) feel seen, supported, and empowered.
“Now, I’m ready to take the next step. I want to expand beyond East Yorkshire and reach more communities across the UK. To do that, I need your help.
“I’m raising funds to upgrade my business set-up and improve storage; expand my reach beyond the local area and open a welcoming retail unit that champions inclusion.
“This isn’t just about a shop, it’s about creating a safe, supportive space where SEND voices are heard and celebrated. Every donation, no matter the size, brings this vision closer to reality.
“Thank you for believing in this mission. Together, we can build something truly meaningful.”
Adam, a student at Wilberforce College in east Hull, has previously spoken about facing discrimination due to having autism and being inspired to launch a campaign and podcast to encourage people with disabilities to aim high. Speaking previously to Hull Live, he said: “I was sick of being put in a box.
“I was always told ‘You can’t do this and you can’t do that’. I am a person and I’m more than my disability.”