For about four years, Waterloo’s Mary Allen neighborhood has participated in an accessible Halloween campaign, allowing fans of all skill levels to enjoy the night’s festivities.

The Treat Accessibly initiative allows residents to hand out treats at the end of the driveway so they are easier to access. This is also done around 5:30 p.m., before it gets too dark and crowded, to make it more comfortable for people with sensory issues.

Families of all abilities are allowed to participate in Accessible Halloween. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)

Catherine Mellinger helped start the initiative in the neighborhood after seeing the need with her own children.

“I work with a friend of mine that once he saves his address it gets imported into a Google map so he can also scan a QR code or get a link to the map. And then all the homes that signed up for the accessible trick or treating program are on that map,” she told CTV News.

An orange lawn sign indicates a house is participating.

An orange sign on the lawn indicates that you are aware that a home participates in Treat Accessibly. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)

An accessible Halloween means anyone from any community or skill set is welcome.

“People with younger children also felt like it became accessible to them because it just made it easy to not have to have a disability to be able to enjoy an accessible Halloween,” Mellinger said.

King Kong arrives at Waterloo

Melissa Kuntz has a cousin who lives in Mary Allen’s neighborhood, so she goes there with her son Kaiden, 10, who has an undiagnosed rare disease.

In their family, they take Halloween very seriously.

This year, Kaiden was dressed as King Kong. Kuntz sewed his costume by hand and incorporated his wheelchair into the look. They also created a mini-New York City that fits behind his wheelchair and includes a pint-sized Godzilla, the “enemy” of King Kong, in the 2021 film adaptation.Kaiden, 10, dressed as King Kong for Halloween. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)

Kuntz said Kaiden has some things in common with the Eighth Wonder of the World.

“I think they are both very gentle souls and very kind souls with hard fighting and courage,” Kuntz said.

Kaiden isn’t verbal, but his parents said they could tell he was looking forward to going to a party on Thursday.

“I think he’s very excited. I see smiles and I see rock that usually says, ‘I want to go,'” Kuntz said.

An accessible Halloween is much better for Kaiden, according to his parents.

“We don’t have to worry about navigating the aisles in his wheelchair in the dark, or going up and down the stairs to the porch to buy candy. We don’t have to worry about it being very dark and loud and scary and overwhelming, and Kaiden gets very tired very early, so he also can’t stay up late enough to make regular treats,” Kuntz said.

Kaiden and his parents on October 31, 2024. (CTV News/Heather Senoran)

Treat in an accessible way has been popping up in communities across the continent, helping families feel included on this special spooky night.