Fredericksburg Parent

16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • October 2026 For many children, Halloween means a night of costumes, candy and neighborhood fun. However, for children with disabilities, participating in a traditional Halloween night can come with chal- lenges that aren't always visible. Halloween has been a special family tradition for local parent Sarah Grooms. For her son Killian, who navigates life on the autism spectrum, the holiday can mean managing sensory sensitivities, communication differences and the expectations of others. Last year, Killian experienced the holiday in a brand-new way. Using a Visual Choices AAC app, he selected his own costume for the first time: Buzz Lightyear. Grooms wasn't sure whether he would tolerate the full bodysuit and helmet, but he loved it so much that she eventually bought him matching pajamas to wear around the house. "On Halloween night, Grooms dressed as Jessie and her husband dressed as Woody, both characters from Disney Pixar's 'Toy Story.'" When Killian saw them, "his eyes lit up," Grooms said. It was the first time she felt he fully understood and looked forward to participating in the magic of the holiday. Sensory and developmental differences can affect how a child experi- ences the night. Costumes, crowds, noise, flashing lights and unexpected interactions may feel overwhelming. Food can create another barrier. Allergies, dietary restrictions and sen- sory preferences mean many children cannot eat standard treats. Even choosing a piece of candy can be difficult for a child with fine-motor challenges. "Rather than selecting one piece of candy, they may grab a small fistful," explains Christiana Cooper, OTR/L, owner and therapist at Kaleidoscope Occupational Therapy LLC. Offering non-food items such as stickers, glow sticks or small fidgets is another easy way to welcome every child. Displaying a teal pumpkin sig- nals to parents that safe, non-food options are available. For Killian, the predictable routine of walking through the neighbor- hood, ringing a doorbell and receiving a surprise is deeply meaningful. He may not eat the candy, but he genuinely enjoys participating along- side his family. The Invisible Barriers of The Invisible Barriers of H A L L O W E E N H A L L O W E E N WRITTEN BY JACQUELENE D'AMICO fredericksburgparent.net FLIP IT. CLICK IT. SWIPE IT. DIGITAL Stay connected to Fred Parent FLIP IT. CLICK IT. SWIPE IT. DIGITAL WEB MOBILE Visit FREDPARENT.NET to get started Stay connected to Fred Parent any way you choose parent fredericksburg & family Creating a More Accessible Celebration for All The Barriers We Don't Always See

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