Micro-Accommodations for Halloween

With October wrapping up next week, Halloween is just around the corner. This means that there will be societal expectations come October 31st that may not be the most accessible to neuro-divergent individuals. Micro-accommodations and a plan can significantly make this ghoulish day a lot more fun.

For anyone unfamiliar with micro-accommodations, they are tools or small actions to assist those who are disabled. Autistic individuals and any other people with sensory sensitivities might find aspects of Halloween lacking accessibility for them. 

If your trick-or-treater or you need something to help keep you regulated during the activity of trick-or-treating, remember that a fidget can help distract from what is dysregulating about Halloween. Earplugs and noise canceling headphones can also help with auditory sensory sensitivities. 

The tradition of ‘Trick-or-Treating’ can be more accessible depending on the location that you decide to do it. Note that while you can take your trick-or-treaters to a ‘Trunk or Treat’ (traditionally held in a parking lot at a church or business) but depending on the popularity these events can have particularly long lines. Similarly, while stores inside a mall handing out candy sounds like a quick way to get your bucket full of candy this setting can also be quite popular and also have long lines. If waiting in a long line isn’t accessible to your trick-or-treaters, skipping these may be in your best interest. 

Quiet neighborhoods with modest decorations will likely be significantly less dysregulating than any blocks with homes decorated to the umth degree in spooky décor, especially with sound effects. Apartment complexes can be potentially good to go to because you can visit several individual homes in a short period and décor is often modest because of limited space. 

If you’re handing out candy but find that frequent knocks on your door (or rings of your doorbell) can be dysregulating, one way to make the process more accessible is to place a container on the outside of your door so trick-or-treaters can help themselves. If you’re concerned about some overzealous visitors taking more than their share you can put out small quantities of candy (or again whatever you would like to hand out) and just refill as the evening goes on. 

Adjusting traditions to make them accessible is completely valid and nothing to feel bad about. Creating a new way to celebrate so that it isn’t dysregulating may just be the micro-accommodation needed to truly enjoy Oct 31, 2024.

Whether you’re the neuro-divergent individual dysregulated by Halloween or you have a neuro-divergent trick-or-treater with you, there are some approaches you can take to minimize the dysregulation. If you’re wanting to be a part of the tradition and handing out candy (or whatever you decide to hand out) be mindful to not partake at your own expense. Since not all trick-or-treaters are going to follow the arbitrary social expectations of asking for candy, be respectful to anyone who diverges from the norm. It’s totally valid for someone to politely ask for candy without saying anything at all. 

Humanities 101 would like to note that after listening to the Autistic community it has been concluded that the blue pumpkin movement does more harm to the community than it does good. Suggesting that autistic trick-or-treaters need to have a way to identify them as autistic is unnecessary. Anyone committed to handing out candy to help make someone’s October 31st fun needs to understand no one is required to ask for the candy anyway but on their own terms.