Halloween for All! The NCA Guide for serving customers with disabilities
Text by Ed Avis
Illustrations by Daniela Rojas
Thank You!
W
e are grateful to our generous sponsors who made the Halloween for All program possible! Also thank
you to Lawrence Carter-Long, Director of DisCourse
& Development for DisArt, for his insightful guidance on the Halloween for All project.
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Halloween for all!
Introduction
H
alloween is a time when people like to take on a different persona, show off in front of others, and generally let
loose and have fun. For people with disabilities, Halloween
means the same thing. It is a time when they can be whomever they want to be.
Costume shop owners are in a great position to help
customers with disabilities succeed in their Halloween costume goals, and parents of children with disabilities will be
happy for the help. Being prepared to help customers with dis-
abilities will show that your shop is in tune with the entire community. Embracing the NCA’s Halloween for All concept is a business decision and a social decision.
Creativity is at the heart of serving any customer with
special needs. Be prepared to consider different types of fabric; various ways to fasten a garment; decorations for wheelchairs or walkers; and/or accessories and makeup that can complete a
look. The creativity you’ll employ with a customer with a disabil-
ity is the same you already use when facing any costuming chal-
lenge, but potentially with the added challenge that the customer is unable to wear a typical costume.
By embracing the NCA Halloween for All concept, you will
show your community that you care about all residents and are available to help everyone reach their Halloween dreams.
This guide is published and copyrighted by the National
Costumers Association, 2022. All rights reserved. How-
ever, NCA members may reproduce parts as needed.
halloween for all!
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Start with a Conversation
T
he first step in serving a customer with a disability is
basic: Ask them what they’re looking for. Then ask what
limitations, if any, the person has regarding that costume.
Starting the process with a conversation shows the customer
that you are ready to accommodate their needs. And, of course, it will help you find the ideal costume. 3
Halloween for all!
Physical Disabilities
C
ustomers with physical disabilities may need costumes that
are easily fastened – such as with velcro – or draped like a
poncho. They may also prefer loose-fitting, larger size cos-
tumes that don’t “hug” their skin. Fortunately, many manufacturers now make XXL and XXXL versions of many of their costumes;
stocking these will help you accommodate customers who need a loose fit and those who are large.
Another way to accommodate customers who are not able halloween for all!
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to wear typical form-fitting costumes is to carry a large stock of accessories that can be used to create a costume concept without the actual costume. Hats, belts, scarves, wands, weapons, jewelry, shields…the list of accessories like that is endless.
People who use wheelchairs may want to incorporate the
chair itself in their costume. For example, they may choose to
decorate the chair so it looks like a car or other vehicle, such as the Batmobile or a steam shovel; a throne or castle; or an ani-
mal, such as a dinosaur. You may be able to accommodate those options with cosplay supplies, such as modeling compound, thin foam sheets, colored posterboard, and other craft supplies.
Another option for a customer in a wheelchair is to create
a “table” on the front of the chair, so the person can dress up
like a chef, DJ, magician, or any other character that uses a flat surface as a workspace.
Customers with physical disabilities that do not require
them to use a wheelchair still may choose to incorporate the disability into the costume. For example, a customer with a missing arm could “replace” the arm with a weapon and become a cy-
borg; or that individual could dress up like a zombie and carry a
fake arm in his hand, as if he just tore it off. Someone with a
missing leg could become a peglegged pirate.
People who use crutches may want to incorporate them
into a costume. For example, they could wear an animal costume,
and decorate the crutches to look like the front legs of that animal, so when they walk with the crutches they become a four-
legged character.
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Halloween for all!
Sensitivity Issues
C
ustomers who have sensitivity issues, such as those on the
autism spectrum, may be served by carrying a stock of
high-quality costumes in varying types of fabric.
In addition to fabric type, individuals with sensory-related
disorders may not want a tight costume, or they may be more
comfortable with a costume that can be easily removed. If you halloween for all!
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cannot find such costumes from manufacturers, and you’re a ca-
pable sewer, keep a supply of velcro and buttons on hand to convert a regular costume into one that is looser and can be quickly
removed.
Some customers may want to portray a character who
typically wears a mask, but would prefer not to have something touching their face. In those cases, one option is to affix the
mask to a long stick, so the person can hold it up to her face
without it actually touching. 7
Halloween for all!
I
Other Disabilities
n addition to individuals with physical and sensory-related dis-
abilities, you may be asked to serve customers who have other
issues. For example, customers with hearing disabilities may
seek a costume with an open face and open hands, so they can
read lips and see each other talk.
Children with serious allergies may also have costuming
concerns. Latex, for example, can cause serious problems for halloween for all!
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some people, so be sure you know the basic components of your costumes so you can steer latex-sensitive customers away from those costumes.
You may even be able to help children with food allergies
find a costume that helps them avoid problems. A costume with
gloves, for example, can help children avoid touching allergens. If the child is old enough to self-carry their auto epinephrine injector, you may want to suggest a costume with a pocket for that.
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Halloween for all!
Collaborate and Promote
T
o succeed with customers with disabilities this Halloween,
you’ll need to let them know that your shop is a resource for them. A great way to do that is to collaborate with
other organizations serving the disability community, such as support groups, philanthropies, special schools, clubs, etc.
Contact the leaders of such groups in your community and
explain that your shop welcomes individuals with disabilities
seeking Halloween costumes. Perhaps suggest a workshop in your
store for individuals with that particular disability. You could confirm beforehand with the leader what costume limitations and
needs the individuals may have so you can be prepared for the event.
Also put out a call on your social media, and through the
social media of community groups, for favorite costume hacks for people with disabilities. Create a hashtag and share the ideas on your social media. People love sharing their ideas!
Finally, inform your local media about what you are doing.
Helping people with disabilities find costumes is a great local
news story during the Halloween season. Most TV stations, news-
papers, and news web sites have online story idea submission
forms that are easy to use. Once the local media report what
you’re doing, word will spread quickly.
Remember, embracing the NCA Halloween for All concept
will show your community that you care about all residents
and are available to help everyone reach their Halloween dreams.
halloween for all!
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Thank You, Sponsors!
Halloween for all!