Disney Delivers Magic to Kids With Special Needs, Launches New Adaptive Roleplay Costumes

Disney Disney's Adaptive Costumes Disney's Hospital Gowns kids with disabilities Hospitalized Kids Pixar Starlight Children's Foundation

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Oct 03, 07:04 am

Disney is giving extra-special attention to kids with special needs by making Halloween a lot more accessible. The world's premier entertainment company released the recent additions to its line of adaptive roleplay costumes, People reported.

Kids, especially those with special needs, now have a wider range of choices on who they want to be on Halloween or any other special occasion. They can enjoy dressing up as their favorite Disney, Marvel, or Pixar characters.

Disney just added the adaptive costumes of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, and everyone's favorite duo in Toy Story, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. What's impressive about the Buzz Lightyear costume is that they added a wheelchair cover set for it.

These new costumes joined last year's popular character costumes - from a Cinderella coach wheelchair cover set to a Star Wars: The Mandalorian adaptive costume and a Black Panther light-up adaptive costume.

Families praised Disney for inclusive products

Adaptive roleplay costumes are "designed with stretch fabric that opens in the back for front entry only to allow for more accessible dressing. The adaptive line is open in the rear and has longer-length inseams for wheelchair-friendly wear. The costumes also have flap openings on the front center with self-stick fabric closure to accommodate tube access.

Parents are raving about Disney's adaptive costumes, praising the family-oriented enterprise for creating inclusive products and making kids with disabilities a part of their "magical world."

One commenter expressed so much love for Disney creating a costume for trick-or-treaters with different abilities.

Another enthusiastic parent shared how their 4-year-old son uses a wheelchair, and thanks to Disney, they are suddenly so looking forward to this year's Halloween.

According to this parent, Disney's costume designs allow so much comfort when worn with less overheating from extra fabric. The loose fit in the legs does not make it "bunch up" like other costumes while seated, and the fabric is lightweight, soft, and breathable. All in all, highly recommended.

Surprise for kids in the hospital

And Disney is doing so much more as it has also thought of the children in the hospital, especially those who are there for the long term.

In a collaboration that Disney spearheaded, Pixar has teamed up with Starlight Children's Foundation, which is committed to providing happiness to seriously ill children and their families in more than 800 children's hospitals and health care facilities in the U.S.

The team is delivering happiness to children's hospital stays as they give out comfortable hospital gowns and pants featuring designs and beloved characters from some of their favorite Disney and Pixar films like "The Incredibles," "Toy Story," and "Up."

These hospital outfits tagged as the "Starlight Gowns" aim to normalize the hospital environment for anxious kids before their procedures and "help ease their transition back to the operating room, according to Kellie Matters, a Certified Childlife Specialist (CCLS) at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill.

The team would want to provide kids with a "sense of normalcy" during their stay in the hospital with these character-inspired hospital gowns that are high-quality and vibrant. They ensured that it could boost confidence.

The lightweight and soft fabric are meant to remind the wearer of their favorite shirt or pajama at home for familiarity and comfort. The gowns provide the coverage that an average hospital gown lacks. It is tied on the side to draw the fabric close instead of having the opening at the back. The sleeves also have "MRI-safe, plastic snaps," which makes easy access for procedures.