Halloween can mean new sounds, costumes, and surprises for an autistic child, and families often ask their clinical team how to prepare. This Halloween guide for autistic children gives you a one-page resource to share with them. The tips come from Hi Rasmus Ambassadors, including BCBAs and clinical leaders who work with families every day.
The guide is written in plain language for families and is available in English and Spanish. If you’re a caregiver who found this page directly, you can download it below and use it as is.
Thank you to our Ambassadors
This guide came together because our Hi Rasmus Ambassadors were generous enough to share what they’ve learned from years in the field.
- Sara Carrasco, BCBA, LBA — VP of Clinical Operations, Jigsaw Developmental Services LLC
- Mindy Rothstein, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA — Founder, The Behavior Guru PLLC
- Emily O’Brien, MS, BCBA, LABA — Clinical Director, Family Behavioral Solutions
- Christine Kaminska, BCBA — Owner, Behavioral Fluency
- Jaclyn Blachly, M.Ed., BCBA — Founder, Reveal Ability
- Emily Stead, BCBA — Ascend Behavior Partners
- Chareen Pappenfus — Billing Specialist, Comprehensive Autism Center
What’s inside the guide
The guide is built around two simple ideas: any version of Halloween is a good one, and a little practice in the weeks before makes the night easier for the child and the family. It’s organized into three parts, each one ready to share with the families you serve:
- Practice early: what to do in the weeks before Halloween
- Let your child lead: how to support your child on Halloween night
- It’s okay to stop: what to do when it gets to be too much
- English and Spanish versions on one page each
