How To Make Halloween More Inclusive For Kids With Disabilities

Every Halloween, children across the United States don costumes and knock on doors as part of a beloved Halloween tradition. But trick-or-treating can come with challenges for some children with accessibility needs.

Cheyann McQuain is a program director at the Disability Action Center, a nonprofit based in Fairmont that focuses on supporting people with disabilities. She said there are simple ways parents and candy-givers can ensure folks with disabilities enjoy the holiday, too.

Listen to an extended version of this conversation below:

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Prepare For Overstimulation

Halloween brings impressive decorations and costumes to town streets nationwide. This can be fun for some children, but overstimulating for others, McQuain said.

For parents, McQuain said it is good to consider how a child responds to overstimulation, and be prepared to step away if things become overwhelming. Parents can also provide noise canceling headphones for their children to wear while visiting houses, she said.

Some Halloween decorations can also include flashing lights, which could trigger seizures in children with epilepsy. McQuain said parents should be on the lookout for decorations that could pose a danger.

Many organizations throughout the state offer sensory friendly trick-or-treating events specially curated to provide a calmer environment to children with disabilities. McQuain said families can seek events like these in their own communities if traditional trick-or-treating feels difficult.

But some kids might just not like the experience of trick-or-treating. That is perfectly valid, too, McQuain said.

“It’s one of those experiences that we as a society look forward to, and we think, ‘Oh, our kids need to go and do this,’” she said. “Just remember that if your kid doesn’t like to do that, then that’s okay.”

Avoid Assumptions

On Halloween, some candy-givers may be surprised to see teenagers or adults come to their doorstep and request candy.

McQuain said these individuals might have disabilities. Avoiding assumptions or comments about their age can make them feel more welcomed during the holiday, she said.

“Sometimes, it might be clear that they have a disability, and other times it’s not as clear,” McQuain said. “If somebody’s coming up trick-or-treating, maybe [do] not give them a hard time.”

Other children might have difficulty communicating verbally. So McQuain said it can be good for candy-givers to be open minded and understand that not all children say thank you in the same way, even if they appreciate the free treats.

Consider Physical Obstacles

Children with mobility issues or wheelchairs may struggle to move through a neighborhood during Halloween, especially if its sidewalks and roadways are unpaved or uneven.

For residents passing out sweets, McQuain said it can be helpful to consider the best place on their property to operate.

“If it’s difficult for you to walk up the stairs, then it’s probably going to be almost impossible for a child with a disability to be able to do that as well,” she said. “Uneven sidewalks, cobblestone sidewalks, stairs, all of those things [can be harder] for somebody with a physical disability, especially at night time.”

Individuals with stairs or difficult pathways can consider sitting at the edge of their lawn or sidewalk, passing out candy from a more approachable location, McQuain said.

Offer An Alternative

Even beyond disabilities, some children have allergies, dietary restrictions or medical conditions that make them unable to eat certain types of candy.

To make sure everyone gets something they can enjoy while trick-or-treating, McQuain said residents can consider providing non-food alternatives to candy as well.

“You can’t accommodate everybody,” McQuain said, but “having that option” and “being mindful” can make a big difference in someone’s holiday.

“Overall, for any of these topics, think of if it was your kid, or somebody you cared about,” she added. “What would you do to accommodate them?”