The Best Buddies Club at James Campbell High School has created a haunted house, guaranteeing students with disabilities are welcome to participate in the festivities of Halloween.
The haunted house has been held since 2016 by teacher Michael Bearis, with the collaboration of the Best Buddies Club and several other clubs. Previous haunted houses included Dance Squad, as well as Anime Club, which will be helping with this year’s iteration. The event was inspired by a desire to promote greater inclusion for students who might otherwise be excluded from the festivities. Bearis said, “There was a need— they don’t have the opportunity, so bring the opportunity to them.”
The Haunted House is designed to be thrilling without being overwhelming. The rooms are designed to be accessible for wheelchairs. They also feature controlled lighting and sound that can be adjusted by volunteers and staff to ensure students with light or sound sensitivity remain comfortable. Every student also has the choice to opt out if they feel uncomfortable. As an alternative, students will have access to other games or experiences, such as sensory boxes that allow them to engage with their sense of touch and feel slime or other objects.
This event is just one of the ways the Best Buddies Club is striving to achieve its goal of giving opportunities for one-to-one friendships and greater inclusion for students with disabilities. The club will be hosting a White Elephant Gift Giving for students to exchange gifts and celebrate the Christmas festivities. At the end of the year, the Best Buddies of Campbell will be partaking in its annual Friendship Walk, meeting with Best Buddies from across the island for a charity walk at Ala Moana’s Magic Island— an event that has consistently exceeded its goal of raising over $1,000.
