Hopebridge Offers Safety Tips for Children with Autism on Halloween

The autism therapy provider identifies ways to prepare for Halloween, so all children can participate in the fun.

As Halloween creeps up, the bright lights, loud noises and unfamiliar clothing may bring new challenges for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That is why Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, one of the nation’s leading pediatric therapy providers, encourages caregivers to prepare their child with ASD for the holiday’s unique traditions and atmosphere.

Caregivers of children with autism can gradually expose their child to the holiday in many ways, including:
• Buying or making a sensory friendly costume and wearing it around before Halloween to become familiar with the textures
• Practice communicating “trick-or-treat” and “thank you” with neighbors and family friends
• Walking the trick-or-treat route prior to Halloween night to become familiar with the area
• Reading stories and looking at pictures related to the holiday

In addition to using these tips to ease into the holiday, it is necessary for caregivers of children with ASD to put safety measures in place ahead of Halloween.
If it is your child’s first time participating in the holiday, it may be beneficial to limit the number of houses they visit or the amount of time they spend outside. Limiting exposure to potentially overstimulating light, sounds and textures can prevent anxiety and meltdowns. It is important to check in with them after visiting a few homes at a time.

For older children, consider explaining why it is both safe and appropriate to trick-or-treat on Halloween. It is necessary that children with autism are with a member of their family or a trusted individual to be safe in these unfamiliar situations. To increase comfort in an unknown environment, ensure children with autism have all their familiar communication devices and sensory toys available to them.

Regardless of age, children with autism can use blue buckets to indicate they may need more patience in certain scenarios. Caregivers can also increase safety by writing their contact information on their child’s bucket. “Despite the spooky nature of the holiday, Halloween does not need to be a scary or overstimulating experience. It can be a night that is fun and exciting

for all individuals if the correct safety precautions are put in place ahead of time,” says Jana Sarno, chief clinical officer at Hopebridge. Proactive thinking will allow your child with ASD to join in on the fun of Halloween.

To learn more about additional recommendations and advice, Hopebridge is happy to connect you with a subject matter expert. Hopebridge has also created a downloadable Halloween guide that you can view here as you prepare for the holiday.

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About Hopebridge

Hopebridge was founded in 2005 to serve the growing need for autism treatment services and to improve the lives of affected children and families. Hopebridge is committed to providing personalized outpatient ABA, occupational, speech and feeding therapies for children affected by autism spectrum disorder and behavioral, physical, social, communication and sensory differences. Hopebridge provides a trusted place where they can receive the care, support and hope they deserve.

Nearly two decades later, Hopebridge continues to open state-of-the-art autism therapy centers in new communities to reach patients and families who need services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Hopebridge operates nearly 100 centers in the following ten states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio and Tennessee.

Media Contact: Evelyn Castor
ecastor@hirons.com
317-703-9929

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC. Testimonials are solicited as part of an open casting call process for testimonials from former client caregivers. Hopebridge does not permit clinical employees to solicit or use testimonials about therapeutic services received from current clients (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 5.07-5.08; BACB, 2020). Hopebridge does not provide any incentives, compensation, or renumeration for testimonials provided by a former client or client caregiver.