October is upon us, and with it comes the annual debate over the blue pumpkin. If you're unfamiliar with this, the blue pumpkin has become a visual cue that a child may have autism.
While some believe that no one should need to disclose a diagnosis to receive candy on Halloween, a blue pumpkin has become an important part of our family’s Halloween tradition.
Brantley’s behaviors make it very clear that he has developmental differences. He rocks back and forth in his wheelchair, squeals with excitement, and repetitively shakes his chew cord with an intensity not often seen in neurotypical individuals.
But despite these visual cues, we’ve encountered people who expect him to behave like a neurotypical trick-or-treater. Individual’s who wait for him to say, “Trick or Treat” or to offer a polite “Thank you”.
While he uses his speech device to help him say these things the best he can, I can see the questions in their eyes.
There’s a disconnect between their expectations of autism and the reality in front of them. When most people hear "autism," they don’t picture a child like Brantley. Instead, they think of the autism portrayed on TV—individuals with low support needs who can speak, engage, and navigate the world in ways that, while different, still feel familiar.
They don’t often consider severe autism—where nonverbal communication, intense sensory processing challenges, and noticeably different behaviors set children like Brantley apart from other trick-or-treaters.
That’s where the blue pumpkin comes in.
For us, the blue pumpkin spreads autism awareness. Awareness of the kind of autism Brantley has; the kind of autism that isn’t often represented in popular media. It’s a gentle reminder that the autism spectrum is wide and varied, and no two children on it are exactly alike.
Although we don’t have to share Brantley’s diagnosis, it’s clear to anyone watching that he has developmental disabilities. I hope his blue pumpkin provides a silent answer to the questions I see in their eyes as they observe his unique mannerisms. But more than anything I hope his blue pumpkin is a bridge to understanding that the autism spectrum extends far beyond what is often seen or portrayed. #autismfamily #autismparents #autismmom #specialneedsparents #autism
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