VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Non-profit makes Halloween fun more accessible for disabled kids
Charlene Nomeny: The first floor of the Fayetteville YMCA was filled with little princesses, heroes and creatures. Kids and parents roamed three rooms and a gymnasium full of treats, activities, and enthusiastic volunteers.
Hanin Alamir: I’ve played on the bouncy house, I’ve spun around, I’ve made cookies.
Nomeny: But pay attention, and you might notice a few things about this Halloween celebration that are different than others.
Sarah Watson: David’s Refuge is a non-profit that was founded in supporting families who have children with special needs or life-threatening illnesses.
Nomeny: Sarah Watson is the David’s Refuge event coordinator. She says their celebration is more inclusive than many other Halloween events.
Watson: So if you think about just a typical night of trick or treating, sometimes you’re outside, sometimes there’s stairs to get up. Some of our friends that can’t get up stairs. With wheelchairs or with crutches are unable to do those basic Halloween needs that are outside, it’s not inclusive.
Nomeny: All the of day’s activities were on one floor, easily accessible by wheelchair. Some rooms are quieter and less crowded. And for the Luke family, the non-food options are essential.
Eric Luke: We really like the trick or treating event because she does not eat any food by mouth, so every table here has a non-food option as well.
Nomeny: Nicole and Eric Luke’s daughter, Adelynn, is autistic. It was Adelynn who introduced the family to David’s Refuge and they’ve been with them for three years.
Nicole Luke: It’s helped give her social improvement of being around other kids and socializing more. And she always says things like ‘is there anybody else that’s like me?’
Nomeny: The main focus of David’s Refuge is helping parents of special needs children make time for themselves. It also builds community.
Nicole Luke: It makes us feel not alone. That there’s other families that have the same struggles.
Nomeny: From the East Area Family YMCA, I’m Charlene Nomeny, with NCC News.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Halloween is a great time for kids, and a challenge for parents in any family. Wrangling excited kids is a struggle. But for caregivers of disabled children, Halloween can be far more challenging.
The first floor of the Fayetteville YMCA was filled with little princesses, heroes, and creatures. Kids and parents roamed three rooms and a gymnasium full of treats, activities, and enthusiastic volunteers.
11-year-old Hanin said she hasn’t been to many Halloween celebrations before, and wanted to experience new things.
“I’ve played on the bouncy house, I’ve spun around, I’ve made cookies,” she said.
But this Halloween celebration was slightly different than others. The YMCA partnered with the non-profit David’s Refuge, an organization who’s mission is to provide respite, resources, and support to families who have children with special needs or life-threatening medical conditions.
Sarah Watson is the David’s Refuge event coordinator. She says their celebration is more inclusive than many other Halloween events.
“So if you think about just a typical night of trick or treating, sometimes you’re outside, sometimes there’s stairs to get up. Some of our friends that can’t get up stairs with wheelchairs or with crutches are unable to do those basic Halloween needs that are outside,” she said. “You cannot enjoy the typical Halloween experience. So we wanted to be able to bring that inside.”
All Saturday’s activities were on one floor, easily accessible by wheelchair. Some rooms were quieter and less crowded. For the Luke family, the non-food options were essential.
“We really like the trick or treating event because she does not eat any food by mouth, so every table here has a non-food option as well,” Eric Luke said.
Nicole and Eric Luke’s daughter, Adelynn, is autistic. It was Adelynn who introduced the family to David’s Refuge. They’ve been with them for three years.
“It’s helped give her social improvement of being around other kids and socializing more. And she always says things like ‘is there anybody else that’s like me?’” Nicole Luke said, whilst Adelynn shook her head no. “Yes, you have,” she continued.
The main focus of David’s Refuge is helping parents of special needs children make time for themselves.
“They help give us our adult time too, because us parents feel like we don’t get much out in the public with other adults.”
Watson said giving caretakers “respite” is important for the well-being of both guardians ond children.
“It’s so easy to get burnt out, but imagine having a child with special needs and needing to actually take a few more moments and care for yourself, and that in turn will help you truly care for your child,” she said.
Some families also said David’s Refuge builds community.
“It makes us feel not alone. That there’s other families that have the same struggles,” Nicole Luke said.
David’s Refuge hosts regular events for whole families and their caregivers. For more information on their events and services, visit their website.