Hundreds of kids in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood got to trick-or-treat early on Saturday at an event that is pushing to make Halloween more accessible for kids of all abilities. 69A Avenue transformed into a barrier-free Halloween village with several booths handing out treats, entertainers, and special guest Nathan Clement, two-time Paralympian swimmer and cyclist. The event was hosted by Treat Accessibly, a movement encouraging homeowners to make the holiday more welcome for kids with and without disabilities. Saturday was the fourth Halloween village to come to Surrey, and they have also been put on in cities across Canada. “An event that really allows the families, really allows kids to come together as a community, trick-or-treat, to just smile, laugh have a great time, means the world,” Clement told CTV News. “As someone who has grown up with a disability pretty well my whole life and never really had the opportunity to do this as a kid, it really meant the world to me to just be involved and give back and give out candy.” Treat Accessibly co-founder Rich Padulo said the organization came to be when his daughter pointed out that a boy in a wheelchair wouldn’t be able to trick-or-treat at their house because of the stairs. So, the family put a sign in front of their house that said they were doing accessible trick-or-treating and they handed out candy from the driveway. Padulo estimates 250,000 homes across the country have Treat Accessibly signs now – and they want to get it to 1 million by next Halloween. He says the organization gets thousands of stories from parents who attended the Halloween villages every year, some saying it’s the first time their child was able to partake in the fun. “Because of our villages, because of homes that treating accessibly now these children get to go out and they know they’re welcome and they feel included,” Padulo told CTV News. “Halloween is a night that all kids enjoy, that all kids want to be part of, and Treat Accessibly is here to help them be part of it.” Treat Accessibly is not just about Halloween, but educating people about accessibility so they can be more inclusive year-round, Padulo continued. On Halloween this Friday, the organization hopes residents will remove barriers by handing out treats from the end of their driveway, from their garage, or at the bottom of front steps. “Treat accessibly is so easy. We’re not asking you to do anything different or spend more money, we’re just asking you to adapt the things you already do,” Padulo said. Treat Accessibly signs are available for free at Pet Valu stores.
