10/11/2026
🧡
As a child who grew up “nonverbal” until the age of 8, I couldn’t say “trick or treat.”
I wanted to, & I tried. But the words just wouldn’t come out. And something that was supposed to be so sweet became associated with something that didn’t feel so safe after all.
I remember approaching a door with a huge smile on my face. I was excited, just like the other kids. The lights scared me, but I wanted to be like everyone else; maybe a little bit too much.
When I couldn’t say the words “Trick or Treat.” I would point, trying to communicate in the way I could.
I was trying.
But sometimes, an adult would tell me I had to speak before I could get candy.
…and my smile would fade.
Many times, my mom had to step in for me.
But looking back, I realize the problem wasn’t that I wasn’t communicating.
The problem was that I was standing at a door being asked to do something I physically couldn’t do. The problem was that people viewed my childhood apraxia of speech as a behavior. Trust me when I say if I could have had a choice if I spoke or not as a kid, I would’ve been speaking.
When I think about those moments now, I think about how easily they could have ended differently.
Someone could have smiled back, they could have offered me candy, and they could have just knew at the end of the day I was just a kid.
And I could have continued being an excited little kid on Halloween.
Kids don’t have to say “trick or treat” to get candy.
Some children speak, point, gesture, use AAC, sign, make sounds, or communicate in other ways.
You may never know how much effort it took for a child to approach your door, or how hard they are trying to connect with you.
Respect their communication.
Offer the candy without making them earn it through spoken words.
I still remember what it felt like to have my smile fade at someone’s door.
I want children today to leave with theirs.
Share this post to remind others that every child deserves to be included. 💙
- Jordan Christian LeVan
