The smell of cinnamon sweet candles. Pumpkins by every neighbor’s door. Reading cozily by a fireplace. Watching colored leaves falling on the pavement. As it does every year, the autumn season evokes happiness and comfort for many throughout the states. Though there is reason to sit back and take it all in, there is also much reason for excitement during fall. For a list of fun, accessible activities to do with family, keep reading on.
1. Painting Pumpkins
Adorning pumpkins with spooky faces is an autumnal tradition for loads of people, but the aspect of carving pumpkins is not always possible for those with mobility related disabilities. An easier, less strenuous way to decorate pumpkins is painting them. Ahead of time, buy non-toxic finger paints and a few pumpkins of whatever size you want. Cover your designated craft table in a large sheet of paper to protect it, and get to painting. If paint is too messy or just too difficult to use, you can also use permanent markers, like Sharpies. The scarier the face, the better!
2. Making and Tasting Halloween Treats
There are loads of different fall themed sweets to bake during the season, and many of these do have vegan and gluten free variations. For a rich, mouth watering option, try this vegan, gluten free pumpkin coffee cake linked here. After a day frolicking in the cold, crisp weather, a cake like this is sure to warm you up again. To find a nut free dessert that is also vegan and gluten free, look no further than the apple crisp recipe linked here. Have the season one that you can savor by making these recipes.
3. Watching Movies Together
From “Hocus Pocus” to “Halloweentown,” there are a wide array of films that are sure to get your family into a ghoulish mood. To make sure that everyone in your family can enjoy the films –– especially those with auditory and vision related disabilities –– some research can be done to find movies with audio description or closed captions. Finding films with audio description is easy with The Audio Description Project at your fingertips. The project, linked here, provides a vast collection of films and television shows from theaters, DVDs, different streaming services, and TV that have audio description available. Most major streaming services have films with closed captioning, so you can find a movie that works for you. If you want to watch the popular animated Halloween movie, “Monster House,” click on the link here. It comes with closed captions and audio description and is available on Netflix.
4. Enjoying the Fall Foliage
Spending time outside is also a wonderful way to enjoy the autumnal experience. Seeing the leaves change color and watching them fall can be a lot of fun. However, not everyone can participate in running through or jumping into a pile of leaves. There are still many other ways to appreciate the fall foliage, especially by making crafts with your family. By clicking the link here, you will have access to a few craft ideas that can help you and your children connect to the season. One craft that caught our eye was the autumn sun catcher craft, where you can take leaves, contact paper, paper plates, and other decorations to make a fake stained glass window of sorts. Of course, there are many other ways to experience fall through art, and more options listed on the site of what to make.
5. Going to an Accessible Fall Festival
One of the best parts about fall is the fact that it is the season of fall festivals. Venues will host a series of activities, provide food and beverages, sell pumpkins and other autumn vegetables, and give visitors yet another opportunity to have a great time outdoors. About two hours away from Charlottesville, VA, Cox Farms in Centreville, VA hosts its Fall Festival and Fields of Fear, which are enjoyed heavily by kids, teens, and adults alike. The site, linked here, provides a guide to areas where it is wheelchair accessible and where it is not. It also gives information to individuals with sensory disabilities of when there may be events that cause sensory overload, and states that service animals are allowed on premises. If you can, be sure to attend and have a whole day of excitement!
Thank you for your continued support and readership. We are trying to make sure the content we suggest is accessible in different ways. Although it can be difficult to find websites that are fully accessible, we review many to offer you the ones that are the most accessible. As always, if you find barriers or have suggestions please reach out to us at info@bluetrunk.org and let us know so that we can improve!