Congratulations Caroline, Franklin, and Noah!
You are the three winners of the 7th annual, 2019 eSpecial Needs Halloween Costume Contest!
We loved everyone's costume entry for 2019. They are always sure to bring smiles to our faces around the office. This year, it was really difficult to choose our winners. But we are extending a big congratulations to our recipients! If you want to check out their costumes and know more about what they wore this year, check out what their moms had to say.
Caroline, Rainbow Brite
"My mom was actually cleaning out some storage in their house for a renovation project and came across an old box of things and brought them to me because she thought Caroline might enjoy it. In those things was a Rainbow Brite hairbrush. It was around the time I usually start brainstorming ideas for costumes and as soon as I saw the brush, I knew Rainbow Brite was it! Caroline has had a really rough year with her epilepsy going back to an uncontrolled state which has caused her to lose the ability to control the left side of her body and she has lost the ability to walk independently. Throughout the year she has had a rainbow-themed birthday party, designed a logo for our nonprofit to help fund inclusive equipment for playgrounds that incorporates a rainbow, we saw a double rainbow while on our family beach vacation... it's basically been a theme for the year and it doesn't hurt that it has positive symbolism for hope and inclusion. She has been a rainbow throughout the storm of the year with her incredible strength and resilience. Once we were set on the costume it was really easy to put together. I found a blue leotard and rainbow sock/glove set that I ordered online (amazon). I made the rainbow suspender/topper out of red felt and cut the rainbow, stars, yellow chest strap with red circles out of craft foam and hot glued it all together. I bought ribbon and tied it around a sprite plush to wear as a purse/sidekick, she already had a rainbow chew necklace (also an amazon find) and I hot glued a red start to a lavender ribbon that I glued to an allergy gator clip. No sewing is a plus for me 😆 I loved making this costume & it was perfect for Caroline & a lot of great nostalgia for me being an 80s kid."
-Jenny, Caroline's mom
Franklin, Elton John
"Franklin loves music, shiny/silky materials, and big glasses (he always steals my sunglasses), and one day, he grabbed a piece of material and wrapped himself in it while wearing my sunglasses and we immediately thought of Elton John. That, paired with his love for music, was perfect. Franklin's grandma made his entire costume, complete with silky material, feathered shoulders, and shiny buttons. We even added a stick-on earring! We assembled the baby grand piano out of cardboard and wrapping paper and attached it to the tray of his Ki LittleWaveClik wheelchair, which also had a toy keyboard on it. We also attached a Bluetooth speaker to the back of his chair so he could play Elton tunes all night, which helped greatly, because Franklin is often soothed and calmed by music, and trick or treating can be quite unsettling for a little guy.
Trick or treating was great! At the end of the night, when our other kids were exhausted, Franklin kept asking for "more walk". He stole the show and got lots of extra candy with his charm. Each time we stopped at a new home, someone would come to the door, and then proceed to get everyone else from inside the house to come look at his cool costume and a big smile! There are a lot of photos floating around from people trying to snap a pic with Elton! We have big expectations to fill next year with such a great costume that fit Franklin's needs and personality and was so loved by everyone who saw him!"
-Ally, Franklin's mom
Noah, Motorcycle Dude
"Well, Noah is nonverbal and never gives ideas for costumes. So, we try to work with what has made him the happiest lately and his daddy's motorcycle is something he really enjoys to see and hear. So I started thinking and wanted to turn his wheelchair into his own motorcycle. I recruited the help of a young, community college welding student, that found a small bicycle and took some measurements and cut the bike apart and left me with everything in front of the seat portion of the bike. He then figured out how to attach it to Noah's chair. He got it to me in a couple of days and I had 1 month to build it. I took lots of around the house things like old totes and dishpans to make his main parts. An old sand bucket for the gas tank and painted everything black and silver with chrome accents. We even found a cool skull key chain that had his name on it that I glued to the gas cap. I also used a touch light to make his motorcycle have a working headlight. Then I decided he needed an "exhaust system". So I used PVC pipes and made the tailpipes out of small cups and added flames. Then Noah needed his own riding outfit. So I found a Harley patch and cut an old denim shirt into a vest and put the patch on the back, got him gloves and he already has several motorcycle shirts and he borrowed daddy's do-rag and he was set!
"Noah's school does a small parade through town and that has always been his Halloween. The parade usually wears him out and he's never gotten to truly go trick or treating. This year was unique, in fact, the weather made our community move Halloween activities to 2 days later. Time for Noah to rest.
"So this year was his 1st real trick or treat experience and he thought it was fantastic! He loves seeing all his friends dressed up and we were able to take him to doors and get candy and get so very excited! His headlight was very helpful to see going door to door and the other kids liked walking beside him and turning his light on and off."
-Debbie, Noah's mom
Thank you to all who entered!
If you want to check out all of the entries from Halloween 2019, check it out here. Thank you to everyone who entered!
