The city of Cambridge will be offering free accessible trick-or-treating lawn signs beginning Oct. 17.
In partnership with RE/MAX Real Estate Centre, residents will be able to pick up their sign at one of five designated locations across the city. Those locations are the John Dolson Centre, W.G. Johnson Centre, Cambridge City Hall, William E. Pautler Centre and the RE/MAX Real Estate Centre.
By putting up one of these signs, residents are informing trick-or-treaters that their house is accessible for all children. In addition, signs also help raise awareness for accessibility related issues.
"Displaying one of these signs shows that you have taken the time to consider and create an accessible and inclusive trick-or-treat experience," Olga Vigil Letang, supervisor of diversity, equity and inclusion said.
"While trick-or-treating typically happens once a year, it is important to think about accessible inclusion at all events, activities, and celebrations. Hopefully this initiative will bring awareness on how we can create increase accessibility and inclusion in our own communities."
There are other ways to increase accessibility to children this Halloween. The city suggests putting the the trick-or-treating station in an accessible location for everyone, making your station well-lit for easier visibility and refraining from the use of strobe lights and loud noises that could be alarming.
Some children may also be carrying different coloured buckets to put their treats in. Understanding what each colour means can help ease stress and anxieties. Children carrying blue buckets may be on the autism spectrum. Purple buckets often signal a child has epilepsy and someone with a teal bucket could have a food allergy.
For more information on how to make this Halloween more accessible for everyone, visit treataccessibly.com.
