Hey Ya’ll! It has been forever! I am so excited to be back and I have some exciting things I have been working on for you. Today, I want to share with you a project that my dear friend Laura has been working on. Read her story in her words below:
“What is the Yellow pumpkin?
My son was four, and dressed like a dragon for Halloween. It was his first Halloween that he choose what he wanted to be and it was very special to us. My son was diagnosed a year earlier with Apraxia of Speech. Apraxia is a neurological disorder that effects a child’s ability to communicate verbally, so for us to “hear”him choose his costume and get ready to say a very modified version of “trick or treat” was overwhelmingly exciting! He walked up… and rang his first doorbell, said his “words” and got a piece of candy in his pumpkin. He was happy. I was proud.
Unfortunately we didn’t make it through 10 houses before his “words” for trick or treat were not enough to grant him a piece of candy. The lady held the candy out of reach and continued to ask him to say “trick or treat” so she could understand. What she didn’t understand is that he was trying, and to me he said it perfectly, he was not able to make those grunts last year. My son walked away without any candy and sat down. He would’t go to another house. He knew he was different and my heart broke.
I started thinking, I saw teal pumpkins for food allergy kids, and thought why not a symbol for all kids with any disability or special need to make a holiday a little easier to enjoy.
A yellow pumpkin says that the child holding this pumpkin out for a piece of candy, for a moment of joy, can walkway with that candy and joy. A symbol that can be easily recognized without ruining a costume that they could finally say they wanted. A symbol that others can see there is something special and help make the experience easier and more joyful. A symbol to start a conversation about awareness and acceptance.”
How can you help??
- Check out her Kickstarter Page and support her!
- Print our free printables below and share them this Halloween in any way that you wish! Hang them on bulletin boards, on your front door for Trick or Treaters to see, Staple the flyers to candy, BE CREATIVE!
- Like her Facebook Page and share the message on your Facebook Page!
- Follow her on Instagram @yellowpumpkinparade
- Share your stories using the hashtags: #yppjustbeme and #stopandsayyellow
Free Printables
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