As written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on October 31, 2024
CHARLES TOWN — Jefferson County Schools hosted its annual Sensory Trunk-or-Treat event Wednesday evening at Charles Town Middle School.
Students with sensory needs were able to experience Halloween festivities in a safe environment without the usual stress.
In just three years, the Sensory Trunk-or-Treat has become an important tradition for so many families in the community. It was started by Jefferson County Schools’ Special Programs Department to make sure all students can celebrate Halloween.
Parent and Educator Resource Coordinator Haley Kern was the main organizer for the event.
“We started this event based on student need and because we love kids,” Kern said. “We want all children to have all the celebrations and important milestones that kids go through, but we recognize that some of our friends need special accommodations.”
Some of those accommodations included providing a safe, enclosed space where kids could walk around and wouldn’t run away if they got overwhelmed. Trained staff were there in case a child needed extra support. Decorations were carefully chosen to make sure nothing was too scary.
In addition to the many vehicles where kids could stop and get candy and toys, there was also a sensory station. First responders also came out to meet with the students, so they could get used to their presence and not feel scared in a real emergency.
Kern shared that one of the goals of this event is to create opportunities for students with special needs to have meaningful interaction with someone else. This event teaches empathy and respect for others while encouraging new friendships and connections. Just by walking through the stations at least once, students had around 50 opportunities to interact with someone else.
This year, several clubs and organizations also got involved by volunteering to hand out candy and make sure everyone felt comfortable and welcome.
Nancy Russell attended the event with her daughter, Emma. It can be a challenge for some kids to participate in the typical Halloween activities, so Russell was thankful for this opportunity to get her daughter used to the experience. Getting dressed up and learning what’s expected prepared Emma for the real thing the next day.
“We’ve been coming since the very first Sensory Trunk-or-Treat, and the growth we’ve seen in Emma has been amazing,” Russell said. “This year, we haven’t had any tears, and she’s engaged with a lot of people. She even talked with friends from Jefferson High School that I didn’t even know she knew.”
Kern and the rest of her team look forward to many more years of helping students like Emma continue to grow and have more opportunities to connect with others.