Pumpkin spice and everything nice! It is finally that time of year again, when our favorite holidays are coming up. A little spooky, but always fun, Halloween is the first one! For some, it may be your favorite holiday and you’ve been preparing your costumes for months, but for others it can be stressful, especially if you or your child is in a wheelchair. However, a wheelchair can take an ordinary costume and make it extraordinary. Below are several thoughtful DIY ideas, practical how-tos, and helpful resources to get you started.

1. Build a Vehicle Base

Transforming a wheelchair into a “vehicle” is a popular, fun option. You can create everything from a racecar to a pirate ship. It all begins with a solid base.

Materials you’ll need:

• Cardboard or foam board
• Measuring tape (to ensure wheel clearance)
• Support materials (PVC pipe, light wood, dowel rods)
• Zip ties, C-clamps, Gorilla glue/duct tape
• Decorating supplies (paint, fabric, lights)

How to build:

1. Measure your wheelchair to determine the dimensions of the base, making sure wheels and footrests remain free-moving.
2. Cut your board into the required shapes and assemble a base with reinforced support using the selected frame materials.
3. Secure the finished vehicle body to the chair and add final decorations, wheels, spoiler, steering wheel, etc.

Simplified option:
A simpler version uses the same materials trimmed for fewer components:

• Cut the base frame to suit the chair width
• Assemble body parts separately and attach once decorated
• Add accessories and personalize as desired

For more detailed descriptions on how to assemble or other ideas, check out the following links: Buzz Lightyear, Race Car Driver, Pirate Ship, Hello Kitty Car, Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo.

Mario Kart:

Construction worker:

Batman and bat mobile

Bee hive

Hot Air Balloon Costume

 

Astronaut

Captain America

Shark Cage Diver

Ice cream truck driver:

Cinderella

Game of Thrones- Iron Throne, Option two 

How to Train Your Dragon

2. Additional Costume Ideas

Here are some more creative themes for your wheelchair costume:

• Bee hive: Use pool noodles, duct tape, yellow spray paint to wrap around the chair and attach bee accessories
• Hot Air Balloon: Attach a lightweight frame and a balloon canopy overhead for a magical floating effect
• Shark / Cage Diver: Build a mock cage around the chair and create a shark “fin” or foam piece that appears to be diving
• Pop-Culture Themes: Think “Mario Kart”, “Captain America & the Batmobile”, “Astronaut in Space” — apply the vehicle base and personalize with character graphics
• Practical Costumes: Include “Chef”, “Firefighter”, “Pilot”, “Flower Child” — adapt the chair into part of the scene, not an afterthought
• Adaptive Costume Options: Companies like Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes and Magic Wheelchair provide free or low-cost kits/adaptive costumes for children with wheelchairs (application required). These are great supports for families seeking ready-made solutions.

Princess Wheelchair Cover and Costume 

Pirate Wheelchair Cover and Costume 

 

For families who want to create a truly special Halloween experience but may not have the time or materials to build a costume from scratch, there are wonderful organizations and creators offering adaptive designs. Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes is a nonprofit that builds custom, free costumes for kids who use wheelchairs—transforming them into everything from superheroes to spaceships with incredible creativity and care. Another amazing group, Magic Wheelchair, also designs and delivers epic wheelchair costumes at no cost to children, making each creation a celebration of imagination and inclusion. And for those who prefer to DIY with a little help, you can find handcrafted wheelchair-friendly costume kits and accessories on Etsy, where many sellers specialize in adaptive costume bases, decals, and decorations that make it easy to personalize your look. Together, these options make it possible for everyone to join in the Halloween fun, no limits, just creativity.

3. Safety & Accessibility Tips

• Double-check that the wheelchair’s wheels and footrests are unobstructed.
• Use lightweight materials to avoid tipping or added strain.
• Ensure good visibility for both maneuvering the chair and being seen by others (lighting or reflective materials help).
• Secure attachments firmly yet in a way that allows for emergency quick release if needed.
• When using waterproof paints/adhesives, be mindful of surface temperatures or fumes.

4. Celebrate Inclusion

Adaptive and inclusive costume options are growing. Large-scale retailers are beginning to offer wheelchair-friendly designs and covers, making it easier for everyone to join in the fun. Whether you build your own or purchase one, the goal is the same: an inclusive celebration.

Final thoughts
Give yourself enough time. Planning and prepping early make everything smoother. Talk with the person who uses the wheelchair about what they’d like to be, then build around their interests and comfort. With a little creativity, your wheelchair becomes a feature of the costume, not a limitation.

Let the fun begin and happy Halloween! 🎃