AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
The fun of Halloween can be a nightmare for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Whether it’s dressing in costume at noisy class parties or roaming the neighborhood asking for sugary, dye-coated candy, it all involves straying from the daily routine, which sets off alarms for those with autism.
“He can’t really grasp the concept,” Karen O’Toole, of Aurora, said of her 8-year-old son, Patrick, who has autism. “He’s just not interested.”
It’s not uncommon for children with autism spectrum disorder or other sensory sensitivities to sit out Halloween at school and at home because it’s so overwhelming, experts say. Those who do participate often spend time — sometimes weeks — practicing with parents, therapists and teachers to prepare for what will happen at typical Halloween festivities.
The issue is one more wrinkle for schools looking to mark a holiday that’s grown more complicated. Accommodating children with special needs is just one concern for school officials, along with kids with food allergies or those with religious beliefs that clash with Halloween. The growing complexity has caused some schools to scale back, or even cancel, celebrations.
In Elgin-based School District U-46, some elementary schools do not plan special events surrounding Halloween, said spokeswoman Mary Fergus. Administrators there recognize some students don’t mark the day, and they want to be inclusive of all students, she said.
And in St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, officials have curtailed Halloween celebrations in recent years, said spokeswoman Carol Smith. They simplified activities for a variety of reasons, including an awareness of students with severe food allergies and differences in cultural beliefs, she said.
O’Toole’s son Patrick, who is in a special education classroom at Patterson Elementary School in Naperville, doesn’t have Halloween activities in school this year, she said. In the past, he was given a choice to participate.
Patrick O'Toole, 8, left, sits in his bedroom closet, which he pretends is an elevator, with his brother, Finn, 10, at their home Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Aurora.
(John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Like many kids on the spectrum, Patrick doesn’t like things that are out of the ordinary, so dressing in costume at school parties or for trick-or-treating is out of the question, O’Toole said. Instead, he stays at home with one of his parents on Halloween night, confused every time the doorbell rings and children he doesn’t know ask him for candy.
Because O’Toole’s older son wants to take part in holiday fun, the family is forced to split up on Halloween. This year, O’Toole’s older son will dress as a hockey player, and she’ll offer a simple jersey as a costume to Patrick to see if he’ll want to join his brother this year, she said. “Really, it’s a game-time decision.”
Katurri Phillips, director of therapy at By Your Side Autism Therapy Services in Burr Ridge, Morton Grove and Schaumburg, said she works with children on the spectrum to practice Halloween activities so there’s a better chance they’ll participate with their families.
“We want them to feel that they’re a family,” she said of her clients. “Even though one individual has different needs, they can still look forward to events.”
Therapists instruct families to practice trick-or-treating and discuss what will occur at school events, Phillips said.
At Kingsley Elementary School in Naperville, special education teacher Jacqueline Bahr reads her students booklets called “social stories.” One describes what will happen at the school’s fall festival celebration, and another focuses on trick-or-treating.
“It helps with expectations for things they might encounter,” Bahr said. She also facilitates a role-playing exercise in which students knock on classroom doors during mock trick-or-treating, and on Halloween, she sets up a calming area in her classroom for any students who need a break from the festivities in their regular class.
“As part of our inclusive practice … it’s good for (special education) students to be a part of (the class parties),” Kingsley Principal Erin Marker said. “But there does come a time when the music and the lack of structure and routine will impact them in a negative way, and they’ll want to go to a place where they can feel regulated.” She added that students can choose not to participate if it’s too overwhelming.
Destiny Puente ,of Naperville, whose 7-year-old son, Ty, is on the autism spectrum, spends each fall preparing him for Halloween. “Every year is different,” she said.
Rationing candy is a struggle, Puente said, explaining how she tries to limit gluten for her son. Special diets are common among children with autism, she said.
Costumes are another hurdle. In the past, Puente has purchased costumes far in advance to be able to try them on Ty and have him wear them a few times before his school’s costume party. This year, she had to exchange a too-small Charlie Brown costume a week before Halloween, so she’s hoping Ty will be OK without as much rehearsing.
“But who knows? That day he might not want to wear it,” she said.
The feel of the costume can agitate children with sensory issues, and most don’t like anything on their face or head, said Ashley Stoffel, clinical associate professor and occupational therapist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She suggests trying the costume on a stuffed animal before putting it on the child.
Stoffel also said Halloween decorations outside homes or inside classrooms could irritate a child with sensory processing issues. Preparation is again helpful, so parents should describe to their child what they might see, she said.
Nisha Kakodkar of Naperville said that’s a problem for her 9-year-old daughter with autism.
“She’ll probably last four or five houses (while trick-or-treating), whereas her little sister wants to keep going,” she said, adding the same is true of her wanting to leave parties early because of the noise. “This is true for any event, but especially for Halloween.”
[email protected]
Twitter @knthayer
Source: Halloween tricky for kids on the autism spectrum
The fun of Halloween can be a nightmare for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Whether it’s dressing in costume at noisy class parties or roaming the neighborhood asking for sugary, dye-coated candy, it all involves straying from the daily routine, which sets off alarms for those with autism.
“He can’t really grasp the concept,” Karen O’Toole, of Aurora, said of her 8-year-old son, Patrick, who has autism. “He’s just not interested.”
It’s not uncommon for children with autism spectrum disorder or other sensory sensitivities to sit out Halloween at school and at home because it’s so overwhelming, experts say. Those who do participate often spend time — sometimes weeks — practicing with parents, therapists and teachers to prepare for what will happen at typical Halloween festivities.
The issue is one more wrinkle for schools looking to mark a holiday that’s grown more complicated. Accommodating children with special needs is just one concern for school officials, along with kids with food allergies or those with religious beliefs that clash with Halloween. The growing complexity has caused some schools to scale back, or even cancel, celebrations.
In Elgin-based School District U-46, some elementary schools do not plan special events surrounding Halloween, said spokeswoman Mary Fergus. Administrators there recognize some students don’t mark the day, and they want to be inclusive of all students, she said.
And in St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, officials have curtailed Halloween celebrations in recent years, said spokeswoman Carol Smith. They simplified activities for a variety of reasons, including an awareness of students with severe food allergies and differences in cultural beliefs, she said.
O’Toole’s son Patrick, who is in a special education classroom at Patterson Elementary School in Naperville, doesn’t have Halloween activities in school this year, she said. In the past, he was given a choice to participate.
Patrick O'Toole, 8, left, sits in his bedroom closet, which he pretends is an elevator, with his brother, Finn, 10, at their home Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Aurora.
(John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Like many kids on the spectrum, Patrick doesn’t like things that are out of the ordinary, so dressing in costume at school parties or for trick-or-treating is out of the question, O’Toole said. Instead, he stays at home with one of his parents on Halloween night, confused every time the doorbell rings and children he doesn’t know ask him for candy.
Because O’Toole’s older son wants to take part in holiday fun, the family is forced to split up on Halloween. This year, O’Toole’s older son will dress as a hockey player, and she’ll offer a simple jersey as a costume to Patrick to see if he’ll want to join his brother this year, she said. “Really, it’s a game-time decision.”
Katurri Phillips, director of therapy at By Your Side Autism Therapy Services in Burr Ridge, Morton Grove and Schaumburg, said she works with children on the spectrum to practice Halloween activities so there’s a better chance they’ll participate with their families.
“We want them to feel that they’re a family,” she said of her clients. “Even though one individual has different needs, they can still look forward to events.”
Therapists instruct families to practice trick-or-treating and discuss what will occur at school events, Phillips said.
At Kingsley Elementary School in Naperville, special education teacher Jacqueline Bahr reads her students booklets called “social stories.” One describes what will happen at the school’s fall festival celebration, and another focuses on trick-or-treating.
“It helps with expectations for things they might encounter,” Bahr said. She also facilitates a role-playing exercise in which students knock on classroom doors during mock trick-or-treating, and on Halloween, she sets up a calming area in her classroom for any students who need a break from the festivities in their regular class.
“As part of our inclusive practice … it’s good for (special education) students to be a part of (the class parties),” Kingsley Principal Erin Marker said. “But there does come a time when the music and the lack of structure and routine will impact them in a negative way, and they’ll want to go to a place where they can feel regulated.” She added that students can choose not to participate if it’s too overwhelming.
Destiny Puente ,of Naperville, whose 7-year-old son, Ty, is on the autism spectrum, spends each fall preparing him for Halloween. “Every year is different,” she said.
Rationing candy is a struggle, Puente said, explaining how she tries to limit gluten for her son. Special diets are common among children with autism, she said.
Costumes are another hurdle. In the past, Puente has purchased costumes far in advance to be able to try them on Ty and have him wear them a few times before his school’s costume party. This year, she had to exchange a too-small Charlie Brown costume a week before Halloween, so she’s hoping Ty will be OK without as much rehearsing.
“But who knows? That day he might not want to wear it,” she said.
The feel of the costume can agitate children with sensory issues, and most don’t like anything on their face or head, said Ashley Stoffel, clinical associate professor and occupational therapist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She suggests trying the costume on a stuffed animal before putting it on the child.
Stoffel also said Halloween decorations outside homes or inside classrooms could irritate a child with sensory processing issues. Preparation is again helpful, so parents should describe to their child what they might see, she said.
Nisha Kakodkar of Naperville said that’s a problem for her 9-year-old daughter with autism.
“She’ll probably last four or five houses (while trick-or-treating), whereas her little sister wants to keep going,” she said, adding the same is true of her wanting to leave parties early because of the noise. “This is true for any event, but especially for Halloween.”
[email protected]
Twitter @knthayer
Source: Halloween tricky for kids on the autism spectrum
My parents always said it was "begging".
