PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – It’s Halloween night, and many trick-or-treaters will be making their rounds, hoping to find lots of candy. However, some children may have difficulty expressing their wants and needs.

“It’s important to recognize that not all children can participate in Halloween in the same way,” said Kolton Sellers, assistant director of FSU’s Early Childhood Autism Program. “In particular, children on the spectrum may have sensitivities to some of the sights and sounds that we typically accompany during your typical Halloween activities.”

The FSU Early Childhood Autism Program staff serves approximately 41 families in Bay County.

It is said that approximately 1 to 30 people are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“It is important to recognize that some children may not ask for candy or treats when they come to the door, they may simply smile, nod or gesture, or even use a device to communicate the gift of candy or treats that we typically expect,” Sellers says.

Those handing out candy can look to the child’s caregiver or accompanying adult to determine what to do in the situation.

“If you see that the child is not responding at first when you open your door and try to offer them candy, allow the caregiver to step in and help their child, because this is she will know her child best,” Sellers said.

To learn more about the ECAP program, you can visit here.

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