Haunted Forest is chance to increase accessibility of Halloween

October 20, 2023 · 0 Comments

Aurora’s Haunted Forest will address accessibility issues when the event takes over Sheppard’s Bush on October 28, and will also be an invitation to households to do the same.

If you need an assist on the night of the Haunted Forest, applicable residents can contact the Town’s Special Events Department in advance with their requirements.

“We will have on-site accessible parking and at the AFLC there will be a sensory room set up with sensory experiences available,” says Shelley Ware, Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Aurora, noting that these experiences are available in groups and should be booked in advance. “We will be opening early [for those with accessibility needs] at Sheppard’s Bush at 5.30 p.m., which will be a quieter walk-through for families that would prefer that type of setting. For us, the Bush experience is from 5.30 – 9, and for the general public it’s 6 – 9, but we want to put in as much effort as we can to make it inclusive as possible.”

This inclusivity could also extend to the home.

On the night of the Haunted Forest, signs will be available for pickup to denote your house as an “accessible trick or treat landscape” for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

“If presented on your driveway, people who require accessibility accommodations will know which houses are inclusive or more accessible more easily,” says Ware. “This was a project spearheaded by our Accessibility Advisory Committee, which we’re happy to help promote through the busy night we’re anticipating having.”

For more information on the Haunted Forest and how to contact the Town’s Special Events Department, visit aurora.ca/hauntedforest.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter