'She can actually participate': Kids with disabilities treated to accessible Halloween event

Three years ago, Ashley Muir and her mom spent hours making her little brother with Down syndrome and autism the perfect costume. Hewas dressed up as a firefighter and his wheelchair became a firetruck, but, boy, did it backfire.

"We took him outside to go trick or treating and realized he couldn't make it up to any of the doors, so we went to about three houses and he was miserable, he hated it," she said. "From then we just kind of realized there was no accessible way to go trick or treating in our area, so we decided to do this, instead."

To make sureit wouldn't happen again, sheteamed up with Grandview Children's Centre to throw a fully accessible trick-or-treat event.

Monday night, they saw how much it was needed in their town. About 200 other kids registered for the event thattook over the halls of Clarington Central Secondary School in Bowmanville.

Children with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs, like 7-year-old Alejandra Germanese, are often forced to call for candy from the sidewalk.

This year, dressed as La Morticia from The Book of Life, Antonella Germanese was able to watch as Alejandra rapped on the door, just like any other kid.

"She doesn't have to worry about steps or anything like that so she can actually participate," Germanese said. "She can actually knock on the doors rather than her waiting on the driveway and me going up to the door for her. It's great;we love it."

Many of the children built elaborate costumes over top of their wheelchairs and mobility devices to go trick-or-treatingat the doors of several classrooms.

Many of the kids have allergies or digestive issues due to their disabilities, so they wore special stickers to indicate if they were to receive an edible treat at the door or a toy of some kind.

Faith Ellis went as Frankie Stein from Monster High. Her mom Amanda Gallant said the 8-year-old girl, who needs a wheelchair, is non-verbal.

"There's no expectation that she's going to say trick-or-treat, so it's really great for her that she can just go, see most of her friends and be able to trick or treat like most other kids can."

Grandview is an organization that services about 6,000 kids with rehabilitation and support services, but another 3,000 are currently on the wait list.