Kent ISD — Lydia Eckl’s finger hovered over her augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device as she considered the question: What is her favorite candy?
Lydia, a student at Lincoln School, pressed a button, and the device said, “Cheese.”
Lydia was among the students from Lincoln School who participated in an annual tradition: trick-or-treating in the neighborhood across the street from the school.
“I remember when I came to Lincoln as an autism teacher and was told the students got to go trick-or-treating. I thought, ‘How cool is that?’” said Principal David Breen, who has been with the school since 2010.
Lincoln serves students from kindergarten through age 26 who have moderate to severe cognitive impairments. For many of them, participating in traditional trick-or-treating is uncommon, said teacher Ronda Lubbers.
“There are scary costumes and people jumping out,” Lubbers said. “Also, it can be noisy. It’s sensory overload.”
About 20 years ago, a parent suggested organizing trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, where the family had recently built a home.
“It’s a sensory-friendly environment that is neuro-affirming, along with connecting our students to the neighborhood,” Breen said.
Groups of students accompanied by staff cross the street into the neighborhood. At the end of each driveway, a basket of candy is available for students to select a treat.
Along the way, students learn about road safety. Staff members remind them to look both ways before crossing the street and to walk along the side of the road so traffic can pass.
“This way, they know what to do if they go out trick-or-treating,” Lubbers said.
The activity also provides educational opportunities. Students practice communication skills as they make their way from stop to stop. Lydia used her AAC device to say, “Trick-or-treat.”
“They get to walk the neighborhood, practice counting and make their own decisions,” Lubbers said.
At each stop, students chose a treat and placed it in their bags. Excitement grew when one location, through a sign, invited students to take two pieces of candy. Some counted aloud, saying, “One, two,” as they made their selections.
During a two-hour window about all of the Lincoln School students participated in the event, which was followed by lunch and a Halloween dance.
“It is a wonderful example of how our school and surrounding neighborhood work together to create meaningful and inclusive experiences for our students,” Breen said.
Read more from Kent ISD:
• Students explore job opportunities, build skills with holiday market
• 27 years late, he’s still at Lincoln Developmental Center
