Maybe I’m wrong and your not as upset as this post seems and I’m sure either way what I think won’t matter much to you. Taylor shared a photo of a traditional pumpkin-shaped Halloween candy bucket that was a bright electric blue. He is my son and he has Autism and I love him and am proud of him in everyway and my talking about it with him and sharing the reasons why I’m carrying the bucket , and probably him too a few blocks in, is an opportunity to educate and extend that hand and that can’t do anything other than possibly bridge a gap. You also might spot some blue pumpkin buckets this Halloween as a newer campaign catches on. As a father of a mostly Non vebal Autistic child I am always looking for ways to break more into his world and draw him a little more out of his. “These precious people are not too big to trick-or-treat.” Plumer wrote in the post. Why I hand out candy and treats to everyone who shows up on Halloween, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Blue pumpkin candy buckets are meant to raise awareness that a child or teenager may have autism, and in some cases they may be nonverbal, so they may not be able to say the traditional “trick or treat” Halloween line. God bless. Everyone knows the longstanding tradition at Halloween that a house with a porch light on means kind souls with a big bowl of candy ready to rejoice in the sweet voices of children calling “trick or treat!”. The benefits of the Teal Pumpkin Project go beyond the allergy community, LaFemina told CBS News. Because everyone deserves candy on Halloween. So instead of relying on others to be kind, I will only take my kids to visit places where I know they’ll be welcome. They just need to be themselves… (or a fire fighter, or a wolf, or an alligator)! I don’t look at this as lableing who he is and it definitely doesn’t define who he is. No outside light means the miserly ghouls inside are huddled out of sight eating the entire bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups themselves and wondering why none of their neighbors like them. I mean, there are always jerks, but no bag or colored pumpkin is going to stop that. Halloween should include everyone, regardless of age, ability to wear a costume, or disability. The blue pumpkin bucket is also supposed to signify to people that a person who might appear to be over the acceptable age of trick-or-treaters might have a disability. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. They don’t need to explain their existence. Lots of anger in this post. There are several different bucket colors out there and they all represent something different: a teal one for food allergies and a purple one for epilepsy. I’m not putting a label on my kids just so strangers will treat them with respect. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com. Parents of children with autism hope to carry the message to homes distributing candy in … He doesn’t eat candy, except for skittles and lollipop, so it was a complete waste of a good basket of candy lol. I can assure you, most people won’t have a clue. I’m not suggesting anyone be labeled but I know most autistic persons don’t like physical touch and some have social anxieties. But kids love to see the festivities around their community. Blue Halloween buckets are a subtle way to indicate that the child going trick-or-treating has autism. NAAM will NOT share your information. Though every child that carries a blue pumpkin may not have autism, families want you to be aware that some might. Actually, a year ago, Alicia Plumer, another mother created the idea of the blue pumpkin to advocate for her adult son with autism, B.J. I’m teaching my kids that they’re worthy of respect no matter what. Heck, I may provide my ER with a blue basket to store candy for the upcoming Halloween and employ paramedics to do the same in their different cities. The idea behind this pumpkin is to let you know that the person carrying it has autism. I don’t assume that children who don’t say trick or treat is autistic or nonspeaking. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. A blue pumpkin is used to symbolise autism, and will be carried by trick or treaters to signal that they may have certain needs. Did you know that autistic people are here all year long? I don’t think anyone ever has. and last updated 2019-10-31 11:52:20-04. Why call attention to your child’s specific reason? Mean old Mary down the street doesn’t really care about my kid’s issues. They don’t need to wear a label or a sticker. Which is why it's also a longstanding tradition and perfectly acceptable for you to switch off the porch light at 9 p.m., call it a night and consume all the leftover candy. “But pumpkins are orange.” Of course pumpkins … We might even knock on a few of our neighbor’s doors – But only the ones who know us personally. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Withholding candy for performance is a controlling act, and no “awareness” swag is going to change their ways. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. While it isn’t my job to bring people up to speed with where he is at and all the reasons why he is the way he is I’d rather open doors and extend a hand than close them and never reach out. If a child comes to your door holding a blue pumpkin, and not an orange one, it may mean the child has autism and is unable to speak. She's Getting It! You also might spot some blue pumpkin buckets this Halloween as a newer campaign catches on. I think people shouldn’t need a reason to treat everyone with respect it should just happen. If a child comes to your door with a blue pumpkin, it may mean the child has autism and is unable to speak. There’s a new idea going around this October. Everyone knows them there! A lot of children are shy and a lot of parents know that. - 15 Year Old With Autism Learning To Ride Her Bike ( Log Out / I’m the one in charge of protecting my children. Its important to help others understand that they require certain things and if a blue pumpkin shows, then others should be respectful. Mixed views from autism community about blue pumpkin post. "The diabetes community - we've heard great things from them. This year autism advocates are using the blue pumpkin to help bring awareness on the challenges a person with autism might experience while trick or treating. It’s a grassroots effort, started by moms, to signify that the trick-or-treater has autism and may not communicate in the usual ways. I guess I’m only writing this because I feel so strongly about broadening his world at any and all cost. I bet it took you an awful long time to come up with reasons why this is a bad idea. Instead of thinking of it as labeling, id prefer to think of it as raising awareness like colors used to represent other causes. They are indicating that ALL people with blue pumpkins are autistic. Pro tip: This is why you give out the Smarties first, saving the good stuff for last. The people who harass children to say “Trick or Treat” aren’t in my Disability Rights group on Facebook. I’m the one in charge of protecting my children. Newsweek reported that last Halloween a Louisiana mom, Alicia Plumer, … Spread awareness! That's where the blue pumpkin comes in. A blue Halloween bucket has become an unofficial symbol of awareness for autism. They don’t need to explain themselves to anyone, just to validate their participation in an activity with everyone else. We may attend a “Trunk or Treat” at their school. But there are newer traditions that may have you wondering about the teal pumpkins on your neighbors’ porch or why some kids are carrying blue pumpkin candy buckets. The mission of blue pumpkin buckets is to signify autism awareness. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Teal pumpkins on display indicate that a house has non-food treats such as glow-sticks or eyeball bouncy balls for trick-or-treaters. It’s my job to make sure my children aren’t harassed … I am not an autism mom, and I do understand the “labeling” of anyone with a disability. Basically if you are handing out candy and see someone with a blue pumpkin bucket, they may have autism or they are an advocate of someone else with autism. He’s perfect as is and I never say he has special needs he just needs me to be special. Plumer’s son is 21-years-old, has autism and loves Halloween. ( Log Out / Shutterstock.com As you may have heard, there’s an idea circulating among moms and dads encouragingparents of autistic kids to give their children blue … It's a dangerous and socially irresponsible project. Some children are simply shy and will just stand there. Mixed views from autism community about blue pumpkin post. Four Ways I Help My Autistic Children Communicate Without Speaking, 3 Reasons My Autistic Children Will NOT Carry a Blue Pumpkin for Halloween – Not an Autism Mom – International Badass Activists, Teal Pumpkin Project’s Success Spawns Blue, Purple Alternatives | SnackSafely.com, 100-ish Books on Autism and Neurodiversity, Autism Resources for Elementary School Educators, What I Do at Home to Improve My Children's Speech Delay, Free Printable List of Autism-Positive Books for New Parents, Autism-Positive Books for Teachers to Read During April, Follow Not an Autism Mom on WordPress.com. Some parents want to spread awareness of autism by turning their pumpkins blue, or having blue plastic pumpkin containers. ( Log Out / "Obviously, when you’re going door to door you want your child to be polite, but when they’re not very verbal or, in some cases not verbal at all, they can be. Last year, Autism Speaks posted on Facebook encouraging people to use the blue bucket system and shared Alicia Plumer’s story. The pictures I see regarding the blue pumpkin are not "some kids with autism are carrying blue pumpkins to signify their disability" its "if you see a kid with blue pumpkin they have autism, please be kind and patient". What Do You Do All Year? They aren’t calling the school board about inclusive practices. I took my 7 year old son trick or treating once and not once was he asked to say trick or treat. I loved your post. The National Autism Association supports it, and on its website, parents can download cards to hand out that say, “Having autism can sometimes make it difficult to speak. The blue pumpkin is a way to subtly indicate that a child is on the autism spectrum and may react differently to situations that arise while trick-or-treating. It’s a grassroots effort, started by moms, to signify that … What's the problem with the Blue Pumpkin? Blue pumpkin buckets have been adopted as an indicator that the person holding it has autism. While I don’t personally have a problem with these ideas, my family will not be using them. You're very welcome. Support local journalism. © 2021 www.azcentral.com. Trick or treating can be a fun experience for some children, but not necessarily for those who have autism and trouble communicating. “It’s a stressful interaction," he said. “While he has the body of a 21-year-old, he loves Halloween,” she said. Children who are autistic, or otherwise nonspeaking, can carry a blue pumpkin Halloween night. She said she would say it for him. I can’t be certain that every person in the neighborhood knows what the blue pumpkin signifies. Thanks for sharing though. It’s my job to make sure my children aren’t harassed or emotionally abused on Halloween, and every other day of the year. I too, tried to take my kids only to places we were familiar. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2014 by the nonprofit Food Allergy Research & Education to raise awareness of food allergens on a night when it can be tricky for kids with food allergies to participate. By: WEWS Staff Posted at 8:52 AM, Oct 31, 2019 . I completely agree with you. Tomerlin says the blue pumpkin can bridge a communication gap between the person with autism and other trick-or-treaters and parents. No one needs to know my child’s diagnosis in order for my child to deserve candy just like everyone else. and last updated 2019-10-31 12:48:57-04. “Please help us keep his spirit alive and happy. Don’t make them ask. The blue basket may not be a bad idea either. Some children are shy.If they come to your door just give them candy. You’re welcome, mom and dad.). Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Great mum!!! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Blue, by the way, is the color used for World Autism Awareness Day in April. However well-meaning, this does significant harm to both the food allergy community and the autism community. The idea is it signifies a person trick … Our struggles and … They probably don’t even know that the blue pumpkin is a “thing,” and they couldn’t care less. This will signal to the treat-giver that the child wants candy, but can’t say the words, “Trick or Treat.”, Similar ideas have popped up in past years, such as bags with the words, “I can’t say Trick or Treat, but I’m trying!”. So when you see the blue bucket share a piece of candy. But just in case, I asked him if he wanted to carry a blue pumpkin this Halloween to let people know he’s autistic. I give any child that approaches candy, whether he/she speaks or just stand there quietly. You can even buy signs online that say, “Trick or Trinket.”, (I’m giving out small containers of Play-Doh this year. People supporting the blue buckets say it helps others understand their child's specific needs. Please accept this as a thank you for the yummy treat.”, BLAND:Why I hand out candy and treats to everyone who shows up on Halloween. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Plus, since then we have adapted a low sugar diet to reduce his hyperactivity. Their emotional health is my top priority. Wow. She also added a "P.S." Blue pumpkins — which are a separate initiative from the Teal Pumpkin Project — aim to raise awareness for kids on the autism spectrum who may … ( Log Out / I think you’re totally wrong. 2. I love you!!! So I allowed them to enjoy it. Change ). Vicky . This Halloween, children with autism will be carrying blue buckets or jack-o-lanterns. Here’s why: 1. If this were my time with my kids, I would surely use the blue pumpkin to educate them to give them space and respect them as any other. Omairis Taylor, a mom whose child is autistic and non-verbal, shared that her son would be carrying a blue pumpkin this Halloween to let folks know that he couldn’t say trick or treat. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland. Target is marketing blue pumpkin buckets to represent autism. For kids with autism, Halloween isn't the super joyous free-for-all that it is for their peers. Claim: Using a blue bucket at Halloween indicates that a person has autism. However, I do feel like the blue pumpkin could be a learning situation for all kids and adults, as well. Viral blue pumpkin post draws mixed reactions from autism community A social media post suggested parents switch out orange pumpkin pails for blue ones to … as someone with autism I applaud you for reason 3 I hate having to explain why I flap my hands or rock back and forth but can write an essay normally. All rights reserved. By: WEWS Staff Posted at 9:52 AM, Oct 31, 2019 . He looked at me blankly. There are plenty of safe spaces to choose from that don’t involve trusting a stranger with my children. Hugs from Italy
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