By Kristi Antley

Autumn is an exciting season for most children— searching for the perfect pumpkin, playing with mountains of leaves, attending fall festivals, creating cute crafts, roasting marshmallows, and masquerading as their favorite character. However, families with children who have special needs, sensory difficulties, severe allergies, or other limitations often find that fall events are more challenging than celebratory. Here at Our Town Magazine, we recognize these challenges and seek to provide awareness of the difficulties these families (and ours) may face and encourage a welcoming and inclusive response from the community. It only takes a little more attention and time to provide children with special needs a sense of normalcy. For this reason, we have assembled a guide of safety and inclusivity recommendations for both families and the community.

Recommendations For Parents

Be protectively proactive. Consider your child’s unique sensitivities. Setting sensible boundaries, having a solid plan before an event, and emotionally preparing the child at home to help promote success.

Allow the child’s interests to be your guide. Limit your demands and go with the flow. Showing excitement about your child’s costume, carved pumpkin, or handmade craft will make the experience more enjoyable for a child.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. Find simple ways to adjust and adapt the costume so that your child feels safe and proud to wear it. If your child uses a mobility device, try to find a way to incorporate it into the activity or costume.

Minimize any obvious risks. Avoid costume items that could limit a child’s mobility, pose a fire hazard, or obstruct their vision.

Make sure your child can be seen Make your child as comfortable as possible while being visible to automobiles and other trick-or-treaters by using a flashlight, wearing a glow stick, or incorporating reflective tape on their costume.

Create a trick-or-treat sign. If your child struggles with speech, make cards or have a sticker that your child can point to quickly to help relay the proverbial “trick-or-treat” message. Attach your contact information to your child. Consider having your contact information on a bracelet, belt, or attached to the back of his/her shirt or costume, especially for children who may be non-vocal or non-responsive to others when they get upset or become anxious.

Go on a test run. To prepare your child for a new experience or environment, practice trick-or-treating at a friend’s house or set up a pretend scenario at home. Consider visiting the host facility before attending a festival or event.

Use the buddy system. Of course, younger children should have an accompanying adult when out in the community. However, if your child with special needs is old enough to participate in activities independently, consider partnering them with a responsible older sibling or friend.

Take advantage of community-based activities. The Lexington County Public Library system has multiple opportunities available in their different branches such as their free evening of spooky stories at the Icehouse Amphitheater on October 28. Also, multiple Lexington churches are offering fall festivals or trunk-or-treat events.

Ideas For The Public

Distribute candy from the end of your driveway. Handing out treats from your mailbox will immediately feel more inviting and accessible and will help those trick-or-treaters with mobility issues.

Light up your yard. Bright lighting can illuminate any obstacles and reduce potential accidents.

Label candy and offer non-edible treats. Ensure that any treat you offer has ingredients on the label to protect children with food sensitivities. Or consider offering an inexpensive alternative to edible treats, such as stickers, bubbles, or glow sticks.

Have patience. It can be difficult for children with special needs to accurately grasp a piece of candy, especially with other trick-or-treaters in the mix. Provide gentle encouragement and avoid rushing anyone through their candy selection.

Be mindful of spooky decorations. Because some children have heightened sensitivities to loud noises, bright lights, or unexpected sounds, consider temporarily adapting decorations to reduce the initial startle factor for children.

Try not to judge. If a child comes to your door without a costume or appears to be too old to participate, do not immediately jump to negative conclusions. It could be that they are not able to wear certain types of clothing without being uncomfortable or that they are simply older children who are mentally immature. That doesn’t mean they should miss out on good, clean fun!