The Autism Society (www.autism-society.org) asked for Halloween tips and compiled some great advice.

 

Trick-or-Treating:

 

Make a deal with neighbors to have their kids come for a "dress rehearsal" the day before.  Your child can first practice answering the door and handing out candy to kids.  Then switch and practice knocking and saying "trick or treat!"

_____________________________

The first two years of Halloween, we just let our son dress up and walk up and down the street watching the other kids and looking at the decorations. Come our third Halloween, he went to knock on the doors by himself and yelled "trick or treat" like a pro.

_____________________________

Be flexible, no expectations!  Your child may be content stopping at five or six houses.  Have quiet back up activities ready.

_____________________________

Be aware of which areas have displays with lots of gore and special effects so you can avoid them. 

_____________________________ 

Discuss with the child safety tips for crossing the street, such as remembering to look both ways before crossing.  The child may be over-stimulated from the change in schedule, so priming may be necessary.

_____________________________ 

Flashlights are a must.  My son carried one to help him see in the dark.  It offered comfort and gave him a means of some control.

_____________________________ 

What helped my son most was watching children trick-or-treating on Youtube (Make sure you preview the video before your child sees it).

_____________________________ 

We always put plenty of glow sticks on my son in case we get separated at some of the more popular houses.  You can purchase them at Wal-Mart in different shapes and colors.  They make him feel more secure in the dark, too!

_____________________________ 

If your child is nonverbal, or is not very verbal, make sure he or she wears some kind of identifying bracelet - it can even be part of the costume if done cleverly.

_____________________________

Take a route familiar to your child.  Avoid homes decorated with flashing lights and loud sounds that may trigger sensory reactions.  Review the day's events when winding down.  Discuss any fears about something seen or heard.  Reassure him of your love and protection.  It's a good idea to get a buddy that will make sure your child knows where he or she is going.

_____________________________  

We practice trick-or-treating at our own house.  Then he knows what to expect on Halloween night.

_____________________________

 

Book of the Week: Out and about : preparing children with autism spectrum disorders to participate in their communities / Jill Hudson, Amy Bixler Coffin. Autism Asperger Pub. Co., 2007.  "The focus ... is on "the every day," how to enable and support individuals on the autism spectrum to participate, to the maximum extent possible, in the community around them. In this simple book, the authors provide a framework for identifying the areas where an individual with ASD may need support to participate more fully and successfully in community activities. The framework, created as a Blueprint to be filled in, depending on the child and the outing being planned, lists 10 areas identified in best practice as effective types of support for children with ASD. Areas include waiting plan, communication, social, visual, hidden curriculum, sensory, motivation, behavior, transition, and siblings or other students."--Publisher's website. 

 

This book is in SESA Library; you may search the library catalog via the SESA website, or contact Anne directly by email at afreitag@sesa.org, or by phone at 907-334-1301.