MADISON — Macintyre Goodwin of Madison was among the New York Institute of Technology students who volunteered at Long Island’s first accessible haunted house, providing children with special needs a fun and inclusive Halloween treat.
Hosted by NYIT School of Health Professions, the wheelchair accessible haunted house was set on a single floor in Anna Rubin Hall on the Long Island campus. The attraction was a welcoming and festive experience for families affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. Volunteers led families through each room, which were divided into three scare levels: Minimum Scare, Maximum Scare, and No Scare. Several of the elements traditionally found in Halloween attractions were omitted, including flash and strobe light displays and physical contact from actors, to prevent unnecessary distress among the children. Parents had the opportunity to evaluate the haunted house and its rooms to ensure the experience was right for their child. Children were encouraged to explore their creative side and got “crafty” at a pumpkin painting station.
The fun-filled event supported Inclusive Sports and Fitness, Inc. (ISF), a 501 (3) (c) nonprofit organization that provides health promotion and wellness activities, sports instruction, and physical fitness training for children and adults with different abilities.
About New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology offers 90 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in more than 50 fields of study, including computer science, data, and cybersecurity; biology and biomedical studies; architecture and design; engineering; health professions and medicine; IT and digital technologies; management; communications and marketing; education and counseling; and energy and sustainability. A nonprofit, independent, private, and nonsectarian institute of higher education, New York Institute of Technology welcomes more than 9,000 students worldwide. The university has campuses in New York City (Manhattan) and Long Island (Old Westbury), New York; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as programs around the world.
New York Institute of Technology embraces its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, give all qualified students access to opportunity, and support research and scholarship that benefit the larger world. More than 100,000 alumni comprise an engaged network of doers, makers, and innovators prepared to change the world, solve 21st-century challenges, and reinvent the future. For more information click here.
