Harford County Wheelchair Costume Workshop and Inclusive Trick or Treat

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

Halloween is a time for kids to let their imaginations run wild! Dressing up in costumes and spending the evening with friends, family and neighbors is a popular tradition for many families. Unfortunately for some children, especially those who use a wheelchair, dressing up in a costume and trick-or-treating in their neighborhood can be an insurmountable challenge. Traditional Halloween costumes often do not fit on a child in a wheelchair and the physical inaccessibility of neighborhoods relegates many children with disabilities to stay home on that magical Halloween night. Imagine a place where every child who uses a wheelchair can trick or treat with their siblings and peers, and be the star of the evening in a unique costume designed specifically for them. In most communities around the country, this does not exist. In Harford County, Maryland it does.Recognizing that more than 500 youth with physical disabilities were sometimes inadvertently excluded from community events, particularly Halloween, the Harford County Government hosted the region’s first Wheelchair Costume Workshop at Ripken Stadium in October 2019. Over 2 days, more than 100 community volunteers designed, built and painted completely original costumes that fit securely on 12 children’s wheelchairs. Once the costumes were fitted onto the children, they joined over 300 children of all abilities for an Inclusive Trick or Treat at the stadium, providing an important example to the community that ALL children should be able to have fun, play with their peers, and enjoy Halloween! Each child got to enjoy their costume for hours as they Trick or Treated, and then take it home with them to keep. The Wheelchair Costume Workshop is an outstanding example of a public-private partnership—with over 30 local businesses and community organizations coming together to provide volunteers, donate building materials, and sponsor trick or treat stations.