Disney Cast Member Makes Halloween Costumes Fun and Inclusive!
Halloween is a special time of year and dressing up is a past-time that should be fun and leaves everyone feeling good.
One Disney Cast Member is on a mission to ensure that everyone has a great experience when wearing a Disney Halloween costume.
Photo: Disney
Meet Ariella Hendrix. Hendrix is a licensed costume product design manager for Disney’s Consumer Products, Games and Publishing.
She grew up loving the costumes she saw on stage and wanted to share that passion with others. “My dream is that everyone has a costume that they feel seen in,” Ariella said.
A Passion for Inclusion
Hendrix remembers the excitement of dressing up in Disney costumes as a child and relives that joy as an adult and a parent.
As an adult, and especially now as a parent, I have been able to relive that joy, knowing that the next generation of children will grow up immersing themselves in our stories when they put on a costume that I had a hand in developing.
Ariella has been with the Walt Disney Company for 11 years and has always been a champion of inclusion. She wants all communities to be included in Halloween fun.
Photo: Disney
Part of this process is expanding the collection of adaptive costumes and wheelchair wraps with collaboration partner, Disguise.
Hendrix wants to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have costumes that fit their wants and needs.
In 2023, the Disguise team released some amazing new Adaptive Costumes for children and adults.
The new looks Include:
- Mickey Mouse Adaptive Costume for Kids
- Mickey Mouse Fun House Adaptive Wheelchair Cover.
- Sally Adaptive Adult Costume,
- Jack Skellington Adaptive Adult Costume
- “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Adaptive Wheelchair Cover.
Gaining Valuable Insight
Photo: Disney
Hendrix partnered with Disney’s Enabled BERG, an employee-led resource group that promotes respect, equality and appreciation of people with disabilities through community, awareness, education and inclusion.
She gained valuable insight directly from cast members on how to improve the costumes. Additionally, the new collection also received guidance from Disguise’s consulting firms to ensure an inclusive product.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
Hendrix and her team are also working on expanding the size options for costumes for more inclusivity. This year, the size inclusive costumes include 40 new Disney characters.
Hendrix is grateful for the incredible collaborations with Disguise and FUN.com and is proud of her team’s impact in the community. This Halloween, she has helped to ensure that everyone can experience dress up fun and feel seen.
Image: MickeyBlog
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Article Source/Feature Photo: Disney Parks Blog
