Happy Halloween! Just because you or someone you love uses a wheelchair doesn’t mean they can’t get involved in the creativity and self-expression behind every Halloween costume. At Permobil, we are committed to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for kids and adults, regardless of the holiday or season.
What to look for and where to buy
Below you will find last minute costume ideas, guidance on buying one, and considerations for building a show-stopping costume for next year.
When making or buying an adaptive costume, be sure to keep these key elements in mind:
- Comfort and Fit: Choose materials that are easy to wear and comfortable for extended periods.
- Safety: Avoid choking hazards and ensure that the costume allows for safe mobility.
- Functionality: Look for wheelchair-friendly designs that incorporate features like easy access and adjustability.
If you’d prefer to buy your own costume, there are several brick-and-mortar and online retailers who sell adaptive costumes, such as:
You can always search for a costume on Amazon.com, Etsy or eBay.
Nonprofit organizations
A number of nonprofit organizations specialize in making costumes, including Magic Wheelchair and Walkin and Rollin Costumes.
Magic Wheelchair creates wheelchair costumes for kids between the ages of 5 and 17 at no cost to families. You can apply on the website as long as you meet the age criteria and primarily use a wheelchair for mobility. It takes an average of 8 weeks to create a costume.
Similar to Magic Wheelchair, Walkin and Rollin Costumes provides custom-made wheelchair costumes at no cost. To apply, the child must be between the ages of 2 to 17 and use a walker or wheelchair. Each costume takes a minimum of 3 months to build. They are now accepting requests for the 2025 season.
You can also find helpful costume-building resources on the Walking and Rollin Costumes website. It features an 8-week schedule, recommended building materials, lesson plans, and 3D printer object files.
Learn from the experts
You can learn more about creating adaptative costumes by listening to Episode 18 of Wheelchair Nerds, which features a conversation with the founder of Walkin and Rollin Costumes and a physical therapist at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Salt Lake City.
Permobil team members recently had a chance to participate in the Halloween Wheelchair Costume Clinic at Shriners in Salt Lake City. A graphic designer, members from the marketing and sales team, a clinician, and ATP all came out to help create costumes that made a lot of smiles.
The Halloween Wheelchair Costume Clinic at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Salt Lake City
We encourage you to share your adaptive costume creations and story on social media so you can inspire others to create their own! Let’s celebrate the spirit of Halloween together! Make sure to tag us at @PermobilUSA and use #Permobil
