Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Every Halloween the blue bucket post recirculates on FB and social media. The post says Someone meant well, but their are issues with it.
1. Walmart makes these buckets in different colors, along with Walmart blue. I could not find a specific program from Walmart related to this (even though they have partnered with Autism Speaks). In the FB post it looks like a neurotypical parent saw this endcap and spun the idea out for their Autistic son. It's not an official program that is wildly endorsed in the Autism community.
2. They can make the Autistic person stand out instead of be included. Halloween is one of the few times in our lives we can dress as anyone we want and not be judged as ourselves, but for our costume.
3. It's a non-issue. I've never heard of an experience where a non-verbal trick-or-treater is denied candy because they don't say "Trick-orTreat". From my experience the home owners just say "Ah, aren't you a scary __ and dump a handful of candy in your bucket. and get back to the TV.
4. The idea comes from a good place, but it was made in a viral post for us without us. Autistic treaters were not asked if they wanted a special bucket, and no consideration was given to see if we'd like to stand out with it. A neurotypical mom made the idea go viral, but with no input from her Autistic son.
5. Teal & blue buckets can be hard to distinguish in low light, or if someone is color blind.
6. Does anyone actually care about what kids carry their candy haul in? I grew up with the green McDonald's happy meal buckets, and a lot of people just use their pillow cases, or even these cheap buckets. I've never heard of anyone caring how treaters carried their candy. You made your costume out of cardboard boxes and tin foil, so your budget for a bucket is $0.
More info on this issue can be found at
nationalautismassociation.org/blue-buckets-for-halloween
neuroclastic.com/why-you-shouldnt-participate-in-the-blue-bucket-trend-this-halloween
Every Halloween the blue bucket post recirculates on FB and social media. The post says Someone meant well, but their are issues with it.
1. Walmart makes these buckets in different colors, along with Walmart blue. I could not find a specific program from Walmart related to this (even though they have partnered with Autism Speaks). In the FB post it looks like a neurotypical parent saw this endcap and spun the idea out for their Autistic son. It's not an official program that is wildly endorsed in the Autism community.
2. They can make the Autistic person stand out instead of be included. Halloween is one of the few times in our lives we can dress as anyone we want and not be judged as ourselves, but for our costume.
3. It's a non-issue. I've never heard of an experience where a non-verbal trick-or-treater is denied candy because they don't say "Trick-orTreat". From my experience the home owners just say "Ah, aren't you a scary __ and dump a handful of candy in your bucket. and get back to the TV.
4. The idea comes from a good place, but it was made in a viral post for us without us. Autistic treaters were not asked if they wanted a special bucket, and no consideration was given to see if we'd like to stand out with it. A neurotypical mom made the idea go viral, but with no input from her Autistic son.
5. Teal & blue buckets can be hard to distinguish in low light, or if someone is color blind.
6. Does anyone actually care about what kids carry their candy haul in? I grew up with the green McDonald's happy meal buckets, and a lot of people just use their pillow cases, or even these cheap buckets. I've never heard of anyone caring how treaters carried their candy. You made your costume out of cardboard boxes and tin foil, so your budget for a bucket is $0.
More info on this issue can be found at
nationalautismassociation.org/blue-buckets-for-halloween
neuroclastic.com/why-you-shouldnt-participate-in-the-blue-bucket-trend-this-halloween
