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

Collecting or Handing Out Candy:

Plan now for how you will handle candy consumption.  A gluten or dairy intolerance may not be an issue with Halloween treats, but food dyes and sugar may wreak havoc with any child.  Decide the candy-eating rules, in advance, and write them down.

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After Halloween, watch the doors extra closely.  My son escaped for the first time on November 1st along with his plastic pumpkin bucket from the night before.  A neighbor alerted us that he was going from house to house on his own.

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When no longer appropriate to trick or treat, my son was given the honor of giving out treats to kids who came to our door.  To "sweeten" the deal, each time someone came to our house he could add a piece of candy to a bowl reserved for him.

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Trick-or-treating is too hard for my son, so I have him answer the doorbell instead when trick-or-treaters come.  I have taught him to open the door, take candy out of the bowl and put one in each bag, say goodbye and close the door.

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Book of the Week: The kid-friendly ADHD & autism cookbook : the ultimate guide to the gluten-free, casein-free diet / Pamela J. Compart and Dana Laake. Fair Winds, 2009.  "This special diet has become an essential step of treatment for families struggling with autism and ADHD. And these recipes for gluten- and casein-free foods, meals, and snacks are simple to prepare and yummy--making it easier than ever to please kids who have behavioral or developmental challenges, or are just picky eaters. In this revised and updated edition, we've compiled all the latest research findings and add more information on all food culprits. We've also added 100 new recipes!" --Cover, p. 4.