Posted by Rosie Reeves on October 15, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Little Carter has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, so his dad made him an amazing ice cream truck costume that incorporates the chair. Carter, as Buster’s Ice Cream, has gone viral on the internet thanks to his dad’s creativity and his adorableness.
Need some ideas for a special needs child in a wheelchair this Halloween? Check out my article from 2009. The Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation has some great ideas, including Fred Flintstone in his car, a drummer with a drum set, Cinderella in her coach, a flower garden and more. The bulldozer driver costume here is great, too.
Here are some more ideas from my own brainstorming session:
- The Lincoln Memorial
- A judge
- A toll booth operator
- A UPS driver
- For tweens and teens looking for something more edgy, try an electric chair victim
If your child uses a walker you can use that as part of the costume, too. A sushi chef, bartender, hot dog vendor, keyboard player or even Mr. Fredrickson from Up are just a few ideas (don’t forget the tennis balls!). Feeding tubes or other medical equipment can also be accomodated or camoflauged with some extra planning and creativity.
As you construct a costume or take a child out for Halloween, keep safety and comfort in mind:
- Use reflective material, glowsticks or lights
- Be sure masks or hoods allow the child to see well enough
- Keep hems short to avoid tripping
- Use soft materials and take the child’s sensory needs into consideration
Share your ideas in the comments! Add photos on my Facebook page.
Happy Halloween!
