Trick or Treat, Disability Can Be Viewed Both Ways

When you think October, Halloween leaps to the front of the line – particularly for anyone planning on donning a costume. As I’m writing this, my 7-year-old neighbor is weighing the benefits of Minnie Mouse vs. Scooby Do. I’d guess dressing up to personify someone other than yourself to collect as much of what your mother told you would rot your teeth comes in a close second to tearing opening presents on your designated holiday a couple months later. There’s a certain power in “being” someone else for a night; a sense of freedom.

One of my bucket list items for Epilectra is that on Halloween 2025 my doorbell will ring, and I open my front door to reveal a miniature Epilectra, Insulator, Aupticus, C.P., and Endo-Girl in stretchy Team SEEZ costumes all hollering “Trick or Treat.” These kids, maybe they’re ages 8 through 11, will have read both Epilectra Book 1 and Epilectra Book 2 either at home or at school and will be familiar with the disabilities represented within the books’ pages: epilepsy, diabetes, autism, cerebral palsy, and endometriosis. I imagine the girls in the group fought over who wore the Insulator costume because it shows her belly with her diabetes pump and glucose monitor on either side of her belly button, and they think that’s cool. The 10-year-old wins the battle since her mom has type 1 diabetes, and she understands how the equipment really works. I hand out Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to the superhero quintet. They thank me, oblivious to the fact the I’m the one created the characters they’re portraying tonight, and scramble to the house next door.

But enough about my fantasy. Let’s talk reality and have a quick look at my take on a few of the “Tricks and Treats” I’ve encountered while managing my disabilities. See if they resonate with you…

Tricks

I go to a lot of fancy parties and events, and as a T1diabetic, cocktail parties with elegantly dressed staff passing trays of food items drive me crazy! Yes, they’re lovely. But I never know what will be served or when to expect it during the evening. The night might feature mac ‘n cheese cups, followed by mini Philie cheesesteaks with fries, and be topped off with “to go” milk shakes, or the menu might be edamame followed by stir fry chicken and finished off with a small plate with an almond cookie, a pineapple tart, and a personalized fortune cookie. You can imagine the insulin necessary to cover these meals is drastically different. Or it might be one of those parties where random things come out of the kitchen at random times. This kind of event makes carb counting exceptionally difficult, and I’ve had both hypo- (under 60) and hyper- (over 185) glycemic events at them as a result.

In terms of my epilepsy, I’m thrilled to report here that I haven’t had a seizure since October 27, 2019. But I thought you might get a smile our of some of the places I had them in the past:

• The grocery story

• A nail salon

• A ski hill (after all, I live in Denver)

• During a Broadway show (Hamilton)

• During a Billy Joel concert

• And here’s my favorite – At my husband’s annual meeting right before the keynote speaker did his talk. The speaker? A brain scientist.

Treats

WHAT?! How can I possibly associate having disabilities with treats you may wonder? There’s “scientific” proof that while individuals with disabilities have losses in some areas, they have gains in others. Typically, people with disabilities are better/more creative problem solvers, often coming up with multiple ways to approach a task. Tests also reveal those with disabilities have greater creativity and empathy than those who do not.

I have two big reasons for feeling like my disabilities are a treat. First is my constant companion, Scooter the WonderDog. Because of my disabilities, initially I had him certified as a service animal so we could travel together. I then certified him as a therapy dog. As a therapy dog, he could volunteer with me in hospitals and schools, and we’ve had wonderful experiences together.

Second – and this is huge – I’m grateful to my epilepsy, because it was that diagnosis that led to me volunteer with other epilepsy patients in Monitoring Units at hospitals in Denver and New York, and it was my interaction with these patients that inspired me to create Epilectra. These patients were desperate for an epileptic superhero who was unafraid to interact with the world, and I was able to provide one. Now that Epilectra is a reality, I’m elated to share her message of Disability Empowerment and Stigma Elimination.

So, if you feel like you’re solely a victim of “tricks” because of a disability or what you perceive as a shortcoming, take a moment. Close your eyes. Take a breath. Consider. Maybe your experiences have made you better at something else. Perhaps they’ve put you in a position to help someone else down their difficult road. Perhaps you’ve got a pocketful of “treats” as well. Perspective is a great sidekick!

Sue Seserman is the Creator and Author of Epilectra. Sue is a Disability Thought Leader, Advocate, and Influencer. To learn more about Sue and Epilectra, visit Epilectra.com, and to purchase a copy of Epilectra Book 1, go to Epilectra.com/buynow or Amazon.com.