The Autism News | English


The routine seems simple enough: don a costume, ring the door bell or knock and say “trick-or-treat.”

But for a child with autism, Halloween and the holiday’s spooky decorations, itchy costumes and greeting strangers in exchange for candy can be downright terrifying.

That’s why for several days now, 7-year-old Hannah Bermeo and her classmates at Somerset Hills Learning Institute have been spending part of their school day boning up on the basics of trick-or-treating. Costumed characters like Little Red Riding Hood — which is Hannah’s outfit of choice — a race car driver, ballerina and the Tin Man have all been seen walking the halls.

The students here at Somerset Hills, a private school in Bedminster that contracts with several public school districts to serve autistic students, range in age from 3 to 20. They thrive on the predictable, the routine.
“When they see these scary masks and costumes, they don’t know what’s going on,” said Leeann Bartushak of Branchburg whose 5-year-old son Jake attends the school.

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulty socializing, communicating and displaying repetitive behavior. In New Jersey, the disorder affects nearly 9,000 students ages 6 to 21, according to the Department of Education’s 2007 figures. Overall, autism impacts about 1 percent of the state’s population, said Linda Meyer, executive director of Autism New Jersey.

Guided by teachers, students simulate trick-or-treating by knocking on classrooms and offices. On the other side of the door, staffers are ready with candy.

Students rehearse everything from making eye contact, politely selecting candy, responding to a compliment on their costume and of course chanting “trick-or-treat.”

More importantly, the interaction is a lesson in developing social skills, and familiarizes autistic children with the customs of Halloween, making it far less scary, said Livingston resident Heidi Rome whose son Ethan attends the school.

NJ

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The Autism News | Special Guest

How do you celebrate Halloween with your child on the spectrum?

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The Autism News | English


Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for most kids, with candy and treats, not to mention tricks, pranks and scary good times. However, for children with autism spectrum disorders, the night can be anxiety-producing.

The Autism Society indicates that many of the things making Halloween so much fun for most children, such as wearing costumes, knocking on doors, and getting treats from multiple visits around the block, can create anxiety for neurotypical kids. But, with some planning and taking a few tips from the Autism Society and the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence, children with autism spectrum disorders can enjoy Halloween as much as any other kid on the block.

First, start preparing your child for Halloween early—as much as a month before, the Autism Society suggests. Ideas for doing this include:

Read a story with your child about Halloween and the activities involved, such as wearing costumes, trick-or-treating, even pumpkin carving.
Teach your child how to trick-or-treat, and practice knocking on the door, holding out the bag, saying “trick-or-treat,” and then saying “thank you” when a treat is received.
Write a social narrative to determine what your child will do, how he will do it, which houses will be visited, and what will be done with the treats received.

Costumes for trick-or-treaters are important, and a child with autism can enjoy wearing a costume for the night, as well. Choose a costume with your child, one that he will find interesting, then let him practice wearing it while practicing his trick-or-treating skills. If an actual costume is too much for him, suggest face paint, a scarf or a hat, but, should he still be uncomfortable, trick-or-treating without the costume is just fine.

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