Not every person, regardless of age, responds in the same manner to scary Halloween surprises. Children and adults on the autism spectrum are no different.

This article offers tips for parents of children on the spectrum; givers of goodies, including businesses who will make the mall a BOO-tastic Bash Monday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m., and folks who need to know about blue buckets.

“A person can’t tell by looking that someone is on the spectrum,” Melissa Raymond, Milestones Behavioral Services founder and director, pointed out.

Milestones is a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children with autism. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates autism affects 1 in 36 individuals in the U.S., which means this is a prevalent condition that many families are learning how to manage in their lives.

Because every person on the spectrum is unique, one mom posted a picture of a blue bucket on social media a few years back with the following message,  “If you see someone who appears to be an adult dressed up to trick-or-treat this year carrying this blue bucket, he’s our son. His name is BJ and he is autistic. While he has the body of a 21-year-old, he loves Halloween.” The idea caught on.

Emily Istre, nursing director at Southwest Louisiana Autism Services, said she thought the blue bucket trend was a great one. However, they’re hard to find and SWLA Autism Services is a nonprofit. “We take what we can get.”

She will bring adults  on the spectrum to the Downtown Candy Crawl and they’ll be trick-or-treating before it gets dark to avoid the crowd. Fewer people mean less noise, lights and costumes, which can be very stimulating, over-stimulating for some.

“I think it’s important for more people to know that adults on the spectrum might be 30 and on the third grade level, and want to be included,” she said. “Some of them may not be in costumes because they could be sensitive to the fabrics. Some prefer to be in their regular clothes, and that’s OK.”

She is hoping some businesses will have some small, non-candy choices for those who might have swallowing deficits. It’s hard for them to understand why they have to give up the candy at the end of the evening, she said.         

Raymond shared the following tips.

1. Costume: Let a child wear a costume that they love to get them excited for trick-or-treating. Consider the material of the store-bought costumes, the zipper or other closures, etc. Also, let them practice wearing their costume at home ahead of Halloween night to get used to it.

2. Practice: Give a child an idea of what to expect on Halloween night to better prepare them. This can include walking up to your front door, knocking and saying “trick-or-treat,” showing a child photo of lit up neighborhoods, and role playing with family members.

3. Sensory accommodations: Children on the spectrum may experience a sensory overload while trick-or-treating. This can be caused by large crowds, bright lights and loud noise. Consider allowing a child to ride in a wagon while trick-or-treating. This allows the child to participate but keep his or her distance from the crowds and bright lights. Also, consider the time of day. Try to pick a time that is most likely to have the least number of people. Bring earplugs, headphones or comfort items to reduce the noise level and increase the comfort level for the child.

4. Alternatives to trick-or-treating: Some children may not be interested in trick-or-treating. There are still ways to celebrate the season. This can include making Halloween treats, playing Halloween-themed games, carving a pumpkin or passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. These activities allow families to celebrate the day in the comfort of their own home.

5. The power of praise:
As always, praise a child when they are doing well. This will increase the chances of a child continuing to practice positive behaviors. Be sure to point out exactly what they are doing right, for example “I love how you listen when I ask you to stay by my side.”

For those who are wondering what goes on at places such as St. Nicholas, Milestones or SwLA Autism Services, Melissa Raymond, Milestones, explains.

“We are not a school; we’re not a doctor’s office,” she said, “but some of our clients do say that they’re going to school when they come here.”

Clients come from 10 to 34 hours a week. Our hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Milestones provides medical services to remediate their diagnosis, and “that looks different from everyone,” Raymond said, “as long as we’re making progress, and we’re continually evaluating that progress.”

In addition to scholastic goals, clients might work on completing household chores, learn grooming and other self-help skills. They might develop vocational skills.