How To Make Halloween Accessible to Families with Disabilities & Food Allergies

Radically Inclusive Halloween Tips

to be the BEST house on the block.

There are LOTS of Halloween events in Lansing… trick-or-treating, haunted houses, hayrides, and costume parties.

Many of these activities aren’t accessible to ALL people.

EXCEPT… Check out my lil list of inclusive Halloween events in Lansing 2023; happening THIS weekend.

Some people may have dietary restrictions, allergies, disabilities, or sensory issues that prevent them from fully participating in traditional Halloween activities.

Being aware of these differences and making accommodations can make Halloween an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Halloween is a time of year when communities come together to PLAY- to celebrate the spooky, the fun, and the imaginative.

Children with disabilities and those with food allergies are often excluded from holiday events, such as trick-or-treating.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Speaking from experience, here.

From feelings of isolation to frustration, this exclusion can have profound social and emotional impacts on youth AND their parents.

Neighbors, you can use these guidelines and tips to create an inclusive Trick-or-Treating experience to foster a sense of belonging and ensure every one in your community can make happy memories on Halloween.

Tips to Create a Sensory-Friendly & Trauma Sensitive Trick-or-Treating Experience

You don’t have to change your entire Halloween vibe to be inclusive and compassionate.
This is your time to PLAY too; if scary, gore is your thing-
Do YOU, Boo. 👻

(I’m sorry… But I’m not embarrassed enough to delete it).

🎃 Quick & SUPER watered down science for some insight:
The sensory system is part of your nervous system; which is, basically, your fight or flight system. It’s linked to trauma, neurodivergence, anxiety, stress… It’s our survival system. So if a person’s internal sensory system is already a bit frazzled- we’ll say- they are MORE sensitive to external stimuli and susceptible to being sent into fight or flight mode, which will make for an unpleasant experience.

There are a few things you can do to offer a sensory-friendly and trauma-sensitive experience to ensure you’re playing a part in Halloween being less harmful and more FUN.

• Minimize flashing lights 
  • Turn strobe lights to face your property, not people
  • Flashing lights can be harmful to people with epilepsy (seizures) and too much for a sensory sensitive people.

• Mindful of music volume 
  • Music louder than the volume of voices can be sensory overwhelming, which can impact peoples’ ability to communicate and respond

• Optional Scares
  • Never EVER pretend to intimidate or scare someone with a weapon. You never know the experiences others’ have had… Just don’t.
  • Provide candy in an area away from animated decorations; allow it to be someone’s choice to have a 10ft clown jump out to eat them.
  • Consider putting your dog in an area out of sight from trick-or-treaters. Barking dogs can be scary to people and people in costumes can be scary to dogs.

• Accessible Treat Table
  • A table with a handful of treat or trinket options can be set up away from scary decorations.
  • Treats spread out on a table will keep sensory seekers from going elbows deep into your candy cauldron and staying there FOREVER.

Trick-or-Treating is LESS about scaring and scarring
and MORE about making kids love Halloween SO MUCH;
they grow up to be over-the-top porch decorators
with regular size candy. 😉

How to Make Trick-or-Treating Allergy-Safe

Food allergies are, probably, the SCARIEST and TRICKIEST thing to navigate when making Halloween inclusive.

Many popular Halloween candies contain common allergens like peanuts, milk, eggs, and gluten.

From ruining a day or long term health effects to near death emergency situations- it’s NOT about being friendly; it’s about being SAFE.

Ultimately, parents are responsible for checking labels. But since you’re spending your money on candy anyway…

Here’s how you can make trick-or-treating inclusive to people with food allergies.

• Trinket-or-Treat
  • Offer, affordable, non-food trinkets like stickers, tattoos, or small toys.

• Teal Bucket Project representing food allergy awareness.
  • Originally intended for trick-or-treaters to carry, you can use a teal bucket full of allergy safe candy and trinkets; separate from the other bulk candy.
  • Kids who are aware of their allergies, are likely to appear picky– sifting to find a candy they can ACTUALLY eat.

• Top 8 Allergy Safe Candy
  • Allergy-Safe candy can probably be purchased anywhere; but I have the best luck with finding lots of options at Target and Fresh Thyme.
  • Treats without an ingredients list or a clear brand to Google will definitely NOT be eaten.

I won’t start a riot over changing it to Trinket-or-Treat;
but we can agree to agree that it’s good idea.

Tips to Make Trick-or-Treating Inclusive to Everyone

It’s always been weird to me that discerning parents (and all doctors and dentists) aim to limit candy consumption amongst young kids. 

Yet, teens and adults are rhetorically asked… Aren’t you a little old to be trick-or-treating? 

Of all the raucous young people could be causing-
getting in costume and jacked on sugar is the LEAST harmful thing.

So that’s where we’ll begin… Don’t be ageist.

• Welcome all ages– including disabled and non-disabled teens and adults.  
  • This also means parents are less likely to take a candy commission.

^^ So throw in the ole lady candy bars… Your girl likes Almond Joys.

This entire post is about how to make Halloween inclusive; but this part dives deeper into non-judgement and…

How to make trick-or-treating accessible to people with developmental disabilities.

• Not every trick-or-treater can eat candy or will wear a costume.

• Be patient when children take their time choosing candy… OR… Set up that Trinket-or-Treat table I’ve been talkin’ ’bout.

• Avoid pressuring or withholding candy until they SAY trick-or-treat
  • Do NOT make a parent step in to explain their child’s disabilities.

• Be Aware of Fine & Gross Motor Challenges
  • Ambulant disabled people can walk without equipment but may still have difficulty navigating a yard covered in leaves and steps. Especially, in a costume… in the dark.
    • Make that table… set it up in the driveway or near the sidewalk.
  • People with fine motor challenges are likely to grab a handful; because they can’t tweezer out a small piece with their finger tips.
    • … Table…

• Developmentally Appropriate Interactions
  • Developmental maturity and interests may not align with age.
    • So if a 30 year old in a Paw Patrol costume is goin’ for the stickers… Tell ’em they look like a hero and Happy Halloween. No assumptions necessary.

• Avoid Singling Out People with Disabilities
  • Announcing you can’t understand the person who’s using sign language. (ugh… I have personal experience with this one).
  • Questioning the parent about the disabilities you perceive their kid to have. Refrain from saying things like- Is it autism?

No matter what… Accept correction or redirection with grace.

Tips to Make Trick-or-Treating Accessible to Wheelchair and Ambulatory Equipment Users

Along with EVERYTHING already shared- here’s a few super simple ways to make trick-or-treating accessible.

• Barrier-Free Access
  • Set up a trick-or-treat station that is easily accessible to all- A table in the driveway or on the edge of your yard and sidewalk.

• Ensure paths are cleared and well-lit
  • Especially, where the tree ruffled up the side walk.

How to Make Trick-or-Treating Accessible for People with Vision Impairment

• Barrier-Free Access
  • Set up a trick-or-treat station that is easily accessible to all- A table in the driveway or on the edge of your yard and sidewalk.

• Ensure paths are cleared and well-lit
  • Especially, where the tree ruffled up the side walk.

PLUS

• Communication
  • Inform people with visual impairments about the treats they will receive.
  • Give them options and ask which they would prefer.

• Provide tactile and sensory-friendly trinkets.

• For the love of Halloween, put together a TABLE already.
  • Consider putting a few handfuls of treats or trinkets on a lighted table with a high contrast table cloth or leave it white.

Promoting an Inclusive and Accessible Halloween

The spirit of Halloween is all about fun and inclusivity. Awareness and compassion are cheaper and more valuable than trinkets and treats.

I, truly, hope you found this info helpful.

You’re invited to share your experiences, ideas, and best practices in the comments too.

You can visit TreatAccessibly.com, where I found a printable Accessible Trick-or-Treating Lawn Sign.

One more thing you can do… Promote the importance of inclusivity in your neighborhood. Share this post info with your community.

By implementing these tips and fostering an inclusive trick-or-treating experience, you can ensure that all families, can enjoy the magic and excitement Halloween.

Thanks for reading & sharing. Be Safe & Have Fun.
Happy Halloween 🎃

💛 Glo