Colored pumpkins during Halloween have certain meanings that can make the holiday more inclusive.
Teal pumpkins are associated with the food allergy community, and blue pumpkins are sometimes used by children with autism.
Thanks to the Blue Green Pumpkin Project, led by the Food Allergy Research and Education Organization (FARE), blue green pumpkins are used to recognize homes that offer non-food treats for people with food allergies or other conditions.
Teal Pumpkin Project flyer.
Food allergy research and education
“No child should ever be excluded from a celebration because of an illness. Food allergies are a disease of the immune system — not a diet — not a choice,” Dr. Sung Poblete, RN, FARE’s executive director, tells PEOPLE. “We are grateful that the Teal Pumpkin Project, created by one food allergy mom working to provide an inclusive experience for her child and other children with food allergies, is now a national initiative.”
“Food allergies are a silent epidemic that affects more than 33 million people in the US, nearly 6 million of whom are children,” adds Poblete.
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FARE suggests painting a plain blue-green pumpkin and placing it outside your door if you intend to offer non-food items. The organization also has downloadable signs that adults can print and put on their windows or doors. Signs say, “Non-food treats available here.”
They suggest items such as mini notebooks, playing cards, stickers, fidget toys, mini puzzles, glow sticks, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls and spider rings.
The child can also be tricked or treated with a teal bucket to symbolize that they can only receive non-food treats.
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A similar move is the use of a blue bucket for Halloween, indicating that the trick-or-treater has autism. But unlike blue-blue pumpkins, blue buckets are a much-discussed topic in the community.
According to the National Autistic Association, the initiative began after a mom’s photo of her son holding a blue bucket went viral. “If you see anyone who appears to be an adult dressed up for trick or treating this year wearing this blue bucket, that’s our son! His name is BJ and he is autistic. Even though she has the body of a 21-year-old, she loves Halloween,” she posted on Facebook.
This has inspired some parents to buy blue bins for their own children. The idea is that others might be more accommodating if they see the blue bin, especially if the child is non-verbal.
Major retailers have begun carrying blue bins for Halloween, including Amazon, Walmart and Target.
But some parents object to the use of blue bins because they force children to reveal their medical history. Jackie Spinner wrote a comment for 2019 The Washington Post about why she “can’t get past” the colored bins.
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“Some parents might see the blue bin as a way to help our children. I know that many (many) of the people who alerted me to the idea did so with good intentions,” she wrote. “Our society is becoming more aware of autism, more open to inclusion, and my son will benefit from that. But he also shouldn’t tell a stranger he’s autistic to get chocolate.”
The National Autistic Association noted that blue bins are a personal choice: “As with most things, it’s a choice that should be based on a person’s unique needs.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education