# Move One Session to a Front Step: A Halloween Idea for ABA Teams

ABA clinics looking for a seasonal community-based session have a ready template. Autism Spectrum News published a Halloween plan from Meaghan Timko, MS, BCBA, advisor on behavior analysis at Special Needs Care Network. Disclosure: this blog belongs to Special Needs Care Network.

Source: [Practice Before the Night: A Halloween Plan for Families of Children with Autism and Sensory Differences](https://autismspectrumnews.org/practice-before-the-night-a-halloween-plan-for-families-of-children-with-autism-and-sensory-differences/).

## The session idea

Timko recommends moving one therapy or school session onto a real front step during the week before Halloween. The behaviors families worry about, like bolting or shutting down, rarely show up in a clinic room.

## Targets a team can run on a doorstep

| Target | From the article |
|---|---|
| Door sequence | Walk up, knock, wait, take one candy, step back, leave |
| Masked adult | Family member answers wearing a mask or hat |
| Door that never opens | Count to ten, turn, move on |
| Stop signal | Word, hand squeeze, or card, taught while calm |
| Non-vocal participation | Held-out bag, printed card, or speech device |

## Parent training angle

The article stresses that parents run the practice at home. Timko says results do not generalize without the family on the treatment team, which makes Halloween a natural caregiver-training week.

Read the [full plan on Autism Spectrum News](https://autismspectrumnews.org/practice-before-the-night-a-halloween-plan-for-families-of-children-with-autism-and-sensory-differences/). Special Needs Care Network matches families with special needs care providers in the United States at specialneedsusa.com.