Get Halloween ready and join this new tradition for inclusion 

Halloween is right around the corner, which means it’s nearly time to don the costumes, stock up on treats, and get ready to say “trick or treat!”

It is one of the most exciting nights of the year for kids. But, did you ever stop to think that not every child can easily make it up a porch or to a traditional trick-or-treat setup?

The Toronto-born Treat Accessibly movement is all about making sure no child feels left out on the spookiest day of the year.

Inclusive Halloween fun for all

It all started in 2017 when seven-year-old Siena was putting out pumpkins in front of her Toronto home to decorate for Halloween.

While doing so, she noticed a young boy using a wheelchair. She asked her parents how the boy could participate in trick-or-treating, navigating the driveway and front steps.

The family decided they would move their treat station to the bottom of the driveway and put up a sign indicating their home was accessible.

Now, nearly 10 years later, and with some 300,000 Canadian homes participating in Treat Accessibly, it’s your turn to join.

Make the pledge

Treat Accessibly

By pledging to include your home in the Treat Accessibly tradition and treating from the end of your driveway, front steps, garage, lawn, or in an apartment lobby, you can help more children be included on Halloween night.

And it’s super easy to join the tradition. Just add your home by pledging online and join more than 300,000 Canadian homes also taking part this Oct. 31.

Add a free lawn sign to your Halloween setup and let families know your home is an accessible trick-or-treat destination. You can pick one up at a local retailer by preregistering for an email update, or print your own for free from the Treat Accessibly website.

Celebrate those already making an impact

Treat Accessibly

Nominations are now open to honour Canadian streets that have already made an impact in their community by becoming reliable, accessible treating destinations.

25 of those streets will be officially selected as a Treat Accessibly Halloween Street. These streets will see trick-or-treat stations moved to the end of every driveway and lawns decorated with Treat Accessibly signs. They’ll also include earlier trick-or-treating in the daylight.

Canada’s first Halloween Street is in Delta, B.C., where one local note brought 50 neighbours together in a matter of days. This year, eyes will be on a street right here in Toronto, as it’s already leading in nominations. 

Canada’s biggest inclusive community act

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the history books for a country-wide act.

This year, Treat Accessibly could have its largest number of participating homes — and it only takes a small change to join the effort!

So, take part and invite your neighbours to join Canada’s new Halloween tradition. Together, we can help create the country’s biggest shared act of inclusion for all disabilities. 

Visit the Treat Accessibly website to pledge your home, nominate a street, and order a free lawn sign.