Without stairs to climb or noisy music and bright lights, Five Counties Children’s Centre will be striving to create accessible and inclusive experiences for kids this Halloween season.
The regional children’s centre, which serves children and youth with special needs living in Northumberland, Peterborough and Haliburton counties, and Kawartha Lakes, is hosting “All-o-ween” activities later this month.
It’s the inaugural Halloween-themed offering of its kind for Five Counties’ clients and children and youth on the waiting list.
“All-o-ween is all about making Halloween festivities more accessible for kids in all sorts of ways,” Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties, told kawarthaNOW.
“Each of the All-o-ween events in Peterborough, Cobourg, and Lindsay will be held indoors, meaning kids get to go around each (Five Counties) site and trick-or-treat at the doors of offices and treatment rooms that Five Counties staff have decorated for the occasion. By offering it indoors, we can make All-o-ween more accessible — no stairs to climb, for instance. For kids with sensory issues, there will be no loud music or bright lights, which we hope makes the event more inclusive for them too.”
There will also be food, kids’ crafts, and a storyteller sharing a fall festive tale. Kids who attend All-o-ween can dress up in costume, wear orange and black, or come as they are. Siblings of Five Counties kids are welcome to join the fun as well.
Five Counties ultimately wants to make trick-or-treating more accessible and less scary for kids through these events.
“Ask any child, and they will tell you Halloween ranks right up there as one of the best days of the year,” noted Hayley Hodges, client and family experience lead at Five Counties, in a media release. “Unfortunately, for some children who are disabled or neurodiverse, getting into the fall festivities can be a challenge.”
That’s where All-o-ween is meant to break down barriers, Eekhof noted. All of the All-o-ween events include an accessible and sensory-friendly trick-or-treating experience.
According to Hodges, providing an inclusive opportunity like All-o-ween benefit kids of all ages and abilities.
All-o-ween runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at Five Counties sites in Peterborough (872 Dutton Rd.) on Monday, October 28, in Cobourg (800 Division St., Unit 2) on Tuesday, October 29, and in Lindsay (9 Russell St. E.) on Wednesday, October 30. To attend, advance registration is required by calling 1-888-779-9916 ext. 215 or visiting www.fivecounties.on.ca/alloween.
According to Hodges, providing an inclusive opportunity like All-o-ween benefit kids of all ages and abilities.
“In our everyday work at Five Counties, we support children and youth with physical, developmental and communications needs with the aim of enriching their independence and quality of life every day,” Hodges said. “Halloween is one of those days or festivities that children of every ability should have the chance to experience and enjoy. And by organizing All-o-ween, we want to ensure everyone participates and no one gets left behind.”
Meanwhile, at home on the big day, community members can also do their part to make Halloween a memorable and accessible experience for all kids and youth. Eekhof suggested the following:
- For people planning for Halloween, there are many tricks to make the event a treat for kids of all ages and abilities too. For instance, you might think to set up a trick-or-treating station that is accessible and barrier free for every child to enjoy. For homes with stairs, consider setting up an accessible treat station on the front lawn, driveway, or garage.
- While scary and spooky decorations are appealing, they can be frightening to some children with sensitivities. Bright flashing lights and loud or frightening noises can particularly cause problems for children with sensory processing issues, autism, or epilepsy. Be thoughtful and tactful in how you decorate so more trick-or-treaters can take part.
- You can also dress for success with inclusive Halloween costumes. Show how crafty and creative you are by designing a costume that meets your child’s unique needs and situation. If a child has sensory issues or sensitivities to traditional Halloween costumes, create your own using simple and soft clothing that reflects a child’s preferences. Many party stores carry adaptive and accessible styles of costumes, including ones that cover wheelchairs. See what’s available or try making your own.
