CTN inclusive and accessible Halloween events encourage kids who experience barriers in their community, to enjoy the fun of trick or treating.

At Children’s Treatment Network (CTN), our vision is to create a vibrant community where all kids, youth and families belong. That’s why our Community and Family Coordinators (CFCs) create and support events that promote belonging for kids and youth with disabilities and developmental needs, as well as their families.

CTN inclusive and accessible Halloween events encourage kids who experience barriers in their community, to enjoy the fun of trick or treating. This year 456 kids/youth and 180 volunteers came together for these spooktacular events in Alliston, Barrie, Collingwood, Midland, Orillia and Richmond Hill.  

Here are just some of the ways that CTN creates a more inclusive Halloween experience:

• Kids and youth can choose whether they wear a costume
• Kids and youth with mobility devices are easily able to knock on doors throughout the hallways of our sites
• Kids and youth who want to skip trick or treating, can instead choose from other Halloween activities at our sites like arts and crafts
• A sensory-reduced environment, allowing kids and youth to feel more comfortable
• Non-edible treat offerings for those who have feeding differences or allergies
• Introduce participants to an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device, where they can use the ‘speaking’ button to say “Trick or Treat”

Events like these truly showcase CTN’s values of inclusion, collaboration, responsibility and innovation, in the following ways:

• Inclusion- CTN CFCs recognize and champion equity and belonging for everyone.
• Collaboration- CTN CFC’s bring volunteers, CTN employees and community partners together, to create awesome, fun and accessible Halloween events.
• Responsibility- CTN CFCs are passionate about providing opportunity for kids and youth to participate in the community, through collaboration with community partners.  
• Innovation- CTN CFCs think ‘outside the box’ when it comes to celebrating traditional events and they encourage new ways for everyone to participate.

At CTN, our mission is together with our partners, we work with kids, youth and their families to support development and well-being. Our Halloween events are one of the ways in which we bring this mission, as well as our vision and values to life. You can learn more about our strategic plan here.

2022-11-07