Cultivate Behavioral Health and Education hosting sensory friendly trunk or treat

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A group that helps children with autism in the Bowling Green area is now giving them a way to celebrate Halloween properly, as Cultivate Behavioral Health and Education is hosting a unique event for the kids they serve in the community: a sensory-friendly trunk or treat.

“A lot of our kiddos have some sensitivities when it comes to sensory fulfillment and stimulation. So we’ve always seen that need that there needs to be something for them that’s a little bit more inclusive. So we had one last year, but this year, we’ve opened up a new clinic. So our hope was to also open up a bigger and better trunk or treat for the community,” Katelynn Viox, Practice Manager for Cultivate BHE, says.

The idea came about when they were teaching the kids how to properly trick or treat, getting them ready for the real thing.

“A lot of our neurodivergent kids can’t necessarily live up to that same standard of the expectation. So continuing to facilitate an environment for them that is a lot more sensory friendly, a lot less overstimulating so that they can still engage in the same activities that every other kid gets to have,” Viox says.

Clinical manager Tyler Brimmer has seen these struggles that parents go through first hand, and hopes this opportunity is a great one for them and their children.

“A lot of that is the inclusion and what is offered in our community… and so we really want to make sure that we are giving them the same opportunities as any other kid would get on Halloween, especially for those that have the sensory deficits or sensory processing disorders,” he says.

The event takes place on October 17th from 5 to 7 PM at their East clinic, located at 165 Natchez Trace Avenue. But if you aren’t able to make it, they’ve got some tips to make your own Halloween experience sensory friendly.

“A simple t-shirt with a superhero on it is totally appropriate, totally fine… and then making sure that you are patient with your child and making sure that they have plenty of opportunities to take a break or to step away if the environment just gets too overwhelming,” Brimmer says.

“Definitely being mindful of loud noises, strobing lights, extremely spooky or like horror, gory themed type of decorations, things like that as well,” Viox says.