Having A Disability On Halloween

 Posted on November 01, 2009 in Social Security Disability

Any way you look at it, Halloween is one of the most exciting days of the year for a child. Children become heroes and villains, princes and princesses, or any other thing or person that they desire. They then run amok, visiting numerous houses seeking what almost all kids desire, candy. Regardless of one's race, sex, or religion Halloween is a day that every child looks forward to. For this reason, it is imperative that everyone is included on this special day, which can sometimes feel difficult if your child has some form of a disability.

Yesterday, I read a very useful article on this subject by Jessica McFarlane, entitled Halloween Activities For Children With Disabilities. In her article, McFarlane points out that your disabled child does not need to feel left out on Halloween. McFarlane states that as a parent, there are several different ways you can make Halloween more fun for your child including:

1. Visit a mall during Trick or Treat hours with your child as most malls are accessible to everyone.

2. Be creative. The onus should be on the parent to help their child feel part of

Halloween and can be done by dressing up wheelchairs, walkers, and other devices. An example is the Darth Vader costume in the picture above.

3. Visit Halloween parades. As McFarlane points out, they can be fun to watch and children can participate in them.

4. If your concerned that your child will be unable to participate outside, then go ahead and bring the party inside. Have a Halloween party at your house and invite all of your child's friends to come.

5. Many zoos have Halloween Trick or Treat times and are accessible to everyone.

6. Look up any other interesting and exciting places to take your child that may make the experience easier for him or her to access and participate in.

McFarlane's point in her article should be clear, that having a disability on Halloween should not stop your child from having a good time. Halloween is a day that every child should participate in. Through a little extra effort and creativity, a parent can find that they can really help make Halloween a special day for their child, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.