What A Blue Pumpkin Stands For On Halloween | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

We Shouldn't Need A Blue Pumpkin To Remind Others To Be Kind To Autistic Kids On Halloween

Halloween is for everyone.

1066
We Shouldn't Need A Blue Pumpkin To Remind Others To Be Kind To Autistic Kids On Halloween
Photo by Haley Phelps on Unsplash

Halloween is going to look different this year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone will have different, safe ways of celebrating this spooky season.

Whether you decide to trick or treat or not this year, the same message remains relevant — be kind to all kids.

Last October I wrote about blue pumpkins — they are used to tell neighbors if a child is autistic. After talking with fellow autistic people and learning more about it, my opinions have changed.

While the blue pumpkin project started off with good intentions as a way to educate others about autism, it is sad that they felt that it was necessary, just so kids can get candy.

I posted things about it in several local groups — while there was support, there are also those who defended having a kid say "trick or treat" and "thank you." While I do believe manners are important, there are kids that just can't talk. Some kids can't put on a show, just for candy and there are plenty of ways to show politeness without speaking.

Please stop associating kids with disabilities with people who are rude and disrespectful.

There could be many reasons why a kid may not say "thank you." They could be autistic, deaf, have cerebral palsy, have a medical condition where they lost their voice, they could be really shy or they could have bad anxiety. Regardless of that reason, no one should reprimand a kid for not saying "trick or treat."

Parents, if your child has a disability and wants to trick or treat, let them. It's their Halloween, too. If anyone gives them a hard time about not talking then speak up, It a great opportunity to educate others about what autism is (but make sure that the child is okay with you disclosing their disability first).

It is good to educate, however, there are sadly those who won't even bother to listen. If they give your kid a hard time then speak up, stand up for your kid, be their parent, friend, brother, sister — just be there for them.

If you say "well it's a good way to educate others about autism" realize that there are other ways you can educate others about it. If you avidly tell kids who cannot say "trick or treat" to "just stay home then," you are being a bully.

Halloween belongs to everyone, disability, or not. Please don't make a child feel more ostracized than they already are. If you are acting sourly to these kids, then you really need a reality check — no kid is perfect. Kids with disabilities exist, and they deserve to have an amazing holiday.

Doesn't speak? Give them candy. No costume? Give them candy? Looks too old? Give them candy. Everyone gets candy — let them enjoy that experience.

Report this Content
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

1193
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments