🎃Navigating Halloween with Neurodiversity in Mind 🎃

Halloween is a celebration of imagination – an evening filled with costumes, community, and little bit of magic. For many autistic children, it can also be a night full of sensory challenges and unexpected social expectations. But with some thoughtful preparation and understanding, Halloween can be joyful, inclusive, and affirming for everyone.

At Autism Community Network, we believe that when families and neighbors work together to celebrate neurodiversity, every child can experience the fun of the season in their own way.

Halloween can be joyful, inclusive, and affirming for everyone.

For Familial Caregivers: Creating Comfort and Confidence

1. Prepare together.

   Preview the evening by showing photos of your route, practicing trick-or-treating, or using a visual schedule or social story. Familiarity helps ease anxiety and builds confidence.

2. Build sensory comfort into the fun.

   Headphones, sunglasses, or sensory-safe fabrics can all be part of the costume! If your child prefers soft cotton over scratchy sequins or wants to wear sneakers instead of dress shoes - that's ok. A costume that feels good helps a child feel safe and confident.

3. Celebrate their passions.

   Many autistic kids love Halloween because it's their chance to act out their special interest dreams. If your child wants to be a dinosaur and talk about dinosaurs all night - let them! Halloween is the perfect opportunity to celebrate what brings them joy and to let them shine.

4. Redefine participation.

   Your child may prefer giving out candy, helping decorate, or attending a quieter daytime event instead of going door-to-door. Every way of participating counts.

   
   

There's no wrong way to celebrate the holiday. If your child would rather carve pumpkins than trick-or-treat, that's more than ok.

For the Community: Welcoming Every Trick-or-Treater

1. Greet without expectations.

   Some children won't say "trick or treat," make eye contact, or wear a costume. Others might use assistive technology or communicate nonverbally. A warm smile and an open hand mean more than any phrase or costume.

2. Keep it sensory safe.

   Avoid flashing lights, loud sounds, and jump scares - or - if your personal holiday is not complete without those things, place a sign on your walkway letting trick-or-treaters know what to expect ahead of time. Keep pathways clear, and candy bowls accessible for children who may not want to reach into someone's hand.

3. Practice patience and acceptance.

   Every child deserves a moment of connection and celebration. Whether they run up excitedly or hang back quietly, your kindness helps themfeel safe and seen.

Be prepared for some children to communicate using both low and high tech assistive technology.

Celebrating Neurodiversity

Halloween reminds us that pretending, exploring, and expressing ourselves are univeral joys. When we make space for all kids however they arrive at our doors, we honor the true spirit of the night: freedom to "come as you aren't."

This Halloween, let's build communities where children can celebrate comfortably, confidently, and authentically.

For more information about ways to support your child through the Halloween experience, please reach out to info@acn-sa.org.