Wind Rose Academy, a Plano private school for students with special needs, will host a Halloween event for children with autism. The school teaches students from Pre-K to 12th grade.
Trinette Pierre, whose nephew attends Wind Rose, said, “We want to give back to the kids who, because of sensory sensitivities, are not able to attend trick-or-treat festivities otherwise.”
Their 5th annual event, called Trunk or Treat, will be held this Saturday, October 22, as a finale to their school’s spirit week.
They are seeking donors, volunteers, and sponsors. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Messiah Lutheran Church, where there will be bounce houses, candy, games, raffles, an outdoor movie, food trucks, and much more.
Volunteers may be asked to bring decorations or candy. Sponsors and donors can view the school’s Amazon wish list or donate directly through Amazon Smile.
The Marcus Autism Center stated, “For a child who has autism, some Halloween traditions — like wearing a costume, going trick-or-treating, or even hearing the doorbell ring repeatedly — may be challenging.”
A catalog of tips suggested ways to make Halloween festivities more comfortable for children.
For example, they recommended ensuring the costume is comfortable and not scratchy. It is also helpful to avoid using face paint for children with texture sensitivities and keep an extra costume on hand in case the child wants to change.
Additionally, the center advised letting the child practice trick-or-treating at home to make them more comfortable the day of, continuing to suggest that parents should not shy away from limiting the amount of time they and their child spend at each stop and even the number of houses visited.
The center also recommended having the child practice receiving trick-or-treaters at the door. Noting that if the child gets overstimulated, you could leave a bowl of candy outside and request that trick-or-treaters not ring the doorbell.
