How to have an accessible Halloween
Just add a jack o'lantern or two!
There’s ghosts, goblins, and jack o'lanterns - oh my!
(Bonus points if you get the Wizard of Oz reference! Sidenote: always a good Halloween costume.)
Halloween is just around the corner - and we have a small guide on how to have an accessible experience, if you’re supporting a family member or you yourself have a disability. This is a quick whistle stop tour of our tips and tricks from us here at AccessAble as to how to increase accessibility within the disability space.
Practice an awareness of other people. If you’re taking someone Trick Or Treating, or you’re maybe offering up treats outside your residence, we’re all aware of people who can sometimes toe the line in taking too much. But what about if there is, perhaps, a motor skills impairment at play? There is a difference between people being greedy vs presenting with their disability, even if it is only subtle. Practicing kindness and an awareness of other people can go a long way.
Enable agency and autonomy. Costumes are meant to be fun, and to be a bit silly - they are not however for specific conditions to be identified. As an example: in the US, the blue jack o'lantern is generally reviled by autistic folk for its long and dark back story. Maybe read up before buying - and have a think about how to enable agency and autonomy without having to give away private medical information.
Be creative when costuming but do not co-opt lived experience. Let’s see your best costumes! We all love a spooky spider, a ghost - even a cat, the best sort of witch’s familiar. But costumes are supposed to be exactly that - they are fun and even silly. ‘Wheelchair bound’ has often been represented by celebrities who are not disabled - by making it a fashion statement - or even at Fashion Week, where models walked a runway with IV lines previously. Disability is a lived experience and a reality for almost 1/4 of the UK’s population - it is not a moment for co-option or satire.
Carry disability aids if needed. ‘Fright night’ can be very loud, and a very sociable event - and if you struggle with this, such as if you are a Neurodivergent person, carrying disability aids is a good tip. Even if you’re only carrying ear plugs - this is an absolute *must*.
Sensory specific snacks are a must! This is inclusion at its finest; if you have a limited diet, or sensory issues surrounding food, or maybe even more general issues surrounding what you can and cannot eat, think about specific snacks you can have - and plan accordingly.
In case you missed It
As it’s Halloween, some of our partners are hosting aptly themed events! Alton Towers has ‘Scarefest’ - something that is sure to be spooky, scary, and out and out fun. Find out more about the event - and make sure you use our Accessibility Guide.
The Motability Foundation has endorsed us here at AccessAble to check out the accessibility of electronic vehicle charging points; you can find out more about our partnership here.