Halloween: Beyond trick-or-treating

The fall is my favourite season; it gives me fresh fuel for creativity after the summer fun dust settles and gets me excited for the holidays ahead. Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas each bring new opportunities for our family to connect and create meaningful experiences.

That fuel is often needed when your child is globally delayed. At times, you feel the weight of being the constant source of creativity and new ideas to keep them engaged, whereas a typical child might express what they want to do or add their own creative flair. Every season becomes a new canvas for me to design moments that capture his attention and spark joy.

This is only his second Halloween, and with every holiday, I find myself more inspired to make it special for him. For many families, Halloween is about costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating. But for us, it’s something much deeper, a sensory celebration that embraces inclusion, creativity, and connection.

Traditional Halloween activities look a little different in our home.

We turn the day into a world of sensory exploration, filling the room with bright orange and purple lights, sparkly decorations, and textures that invite touch. Music plays softly in the background as we move between stations of sensory play, glow sticks, light-up toys, pumpkin textures, and soothing sounds.

One of my favourite parts of this season will be transforming his wheelchair into part of his costume. This year, he’s a farmer driving his very own “tractor.” Turning mobility aids into magic is what makes Halloween such a special holiday for us, it’s a chance to showcase and celebrate inclusion.

Halloween reminds me that children like my son can be part of the same celebrations as every other child. Often, it will take more thought and effort, but when inclusion is embraced intentionally, the world becomes brighter and more welcoming for everyone. We’ve learned that accessibility doesn’t take away from the magic of a holiday, it enhances it.