The Mission Halloween should be a night of joy for every child, but for families navigating autism, it can often bring anxiety. To help make our neighborhoods more inclusive, Marie Mirville-Shahzada partnered with HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services to distribute “Blue Buckets” to families across the district.

Why This Matters The “Blue Bucket” is a subtle, dignified symbol that alerts neighbors that a trick-or-treater may be on the autism spectrum—and perhaps non-verbal. It encourages patience, kindness, and understanding without a parent having to explain their child’s diagnosis at every door.

A Personal Fight For Marie, this event is personal. As a mother of a child with autism, she knows firsthand the challenges parents face in finding safe, welcoming spaces for their children.

• Breaking Barriers: By providing these resources, Marie is helping non-verbal children participate in community traditions with dignity.

• Connecting Families to Services: Beyond the buckets, this event served as a bridge, connecting parents with HeartShare’s critical resources for developmental disabilities and foster care support.

• Community Education: It started a conversation in Bay Ridge and Coney Island about what true inclusion looks like—reminding us all that a little patience goes a long way.