Indiana-based therapy center offers Halloween advice for parents of autistic children

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Halloween in general and trick-or-treating in particular can be overwhelming for children with autism.

That's why Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center, one of the nation's leading pediatric therapy providers based out of Indianapolis, has tips for parents of children with autism and autism spectrum disorder who want to enjoy trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Parents and caregivers of children with autism should plan to gradually expose their child to the holiday, according to a news release:

Buying or making a sensory friendly costume and wearing it around before Halloween to become familiar with the textures
Practice communicating "trick-or-treat" and "thank you" with neighbors and family friends
Walking the trick-or-treat route prior to Halloween night to become familiar with the area
Reading stories and looking at pictures related to the holiday

If this is your child's first experience with Halloween and trick-or-treating, consider limiting the number of houses they visit or the amount of time they spend outside.

Regardless of age, children with autism can use blue buckets to indicate they may need more patience in certain scenarios. It's also a good idea for caregivers to write their contact information on their child's bucket.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Hopebridge operates nearly 100 centers in the following ten states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio and Tennessee.

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