RCP Presents: The Radically Inclusive Halloween Guide

Costumes and Candies and Goop, OH MY!

Yes, yes folks! It's that time of year - HALLOWEEN SEASON! Too often kiddos with special needs/special healthcare needs are left out of the fun, and well, there's just no reason for that -- especially in this day and age. So we've decided to do you a solid and create this handy dandy guide, so that YOU can do your best to have a truly inclusive Halloween this year!

As you go through the guide, you will notice that certain things light up "blue". Go ahead and click on them! They're either printable PDF's (found in the Teal Pumpkin Project area), or links to a corresponding web page. We did our best to think of as many ways to be inclusive as possible, but if we left anything out, or you have some great ideas/suggestions, drop us a comment! We'd love to hear from you!

P.S. Super huge thanks to the Rinn family for being those adorable kiddos on the cover!

P.P.S. For the best reading experience, view our guide in FULL SCREEN.

CLICK TO READ

SPECIAL BLOG POST: Hurricane Harvey Relief

As we watched the news reports surrounding the devastation left behind by Hurricane Harvey last week, we were absolutely heartbroken. Houston holds a very special place in our heart - it is where #TheREALClaraBelleBlue was born, and lived the first year of her life.

In our efforts to help the families of children with special needs that may have lost equipment and supplies due to the epic flooding, we have joined forces with Children's Clinics of Tucson and WORLDCARE to take up a collection of UNUSED supplies and outgrown/gently used durable medical equipment (DME). 

These items will be collected at Children's Clinics (2600 N Wyatt Dr) until Friday, September 22, 2017, picked up and loaded onto a truck provided by WORLDCARE, and delivered directly to Shriners Hospital of Houston where it will be sorted and given to families in need. We ask that if you can donate, please do. If you are not in the Tucson area, please spread the word to those that may be. If you cannot donate supplies or DME but would still like to contribute, click here to donate money directly to the Houston Flood Relief Fund organized by NFL player JJ Watt.

We thank you in advance for your generosity, and ask that you continue to keep ALL of the families affected by Hurricane Harvey in your thoughts, minds, and prayers. 

                                                   #HOUSTONSTRONG

Nike Adds Accessible Shoes To Their Legacy

I'll admit it. I was a bumbling, crying, can't see through my mascara MESS while watching this video. As a lover of fashionable shoes, I have always shunned the shoes Hanger tried to hand me when my daughter would get new ankle-foot orthotics. Ugly. Clunky. Not matching with ANYTHING. 

There was no way my daughter would be caught dead in those shoes. 

So when she got her first AFO's, she also got her first pair of Converse Chuck Taylor Slip on Sneakers. And we have continued down this vein of lightweight fashionable sneakers that could accommodate her braces - most of them coming from Target. However, with age comes a strong desire for independence. In short, Miss E is ready to dress herself, so imagine my surprise when the video of the NIKE FlyEase came across my Facebook feed! 

Finally, a shoe she could put on and take off by herself! She could put her little finger through the loop on the zipper, unzip the heel, slide her foot in, zip it up and secure the velcro tab across the front and VOILA - SHOES ON! This made me wonder if other shoe companies were FINALLY starting to notice our babies, and making accessible shoes for independent living. 

Sure enough, Converse has added to their slip on shoe for toddlers with an older kid shoe called the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Block Party Satin High Top (for girls) and the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Simple Step Americana (for boys). Both models allow for easy on and off, as well as independent dressing (not to mention EASE of independent dressing) through the use of either zippers or velcro.

We are over the moon about these snazzy new shoe finds (even if we are late to the game), and we just had to share them with you! If you've found other accessible clothing or shoe companies, drop their link in the comments! We'd love to check them out and share the news!