Dad Turns Daughter's Wheelchair Into Costume
Chattanooga father Chris Nesin has built Halloween costumes around his daughter Effie's wheelchair for eight straight years.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Special Needs
Chris Nesin has transformed his daughter Effie's wheelchair into a Halloween costume for the eighth year in a row. The annual tradition is aimed at making sure Effie is included and able to enjoy Halloween alongside other children.
Why it matters
For families of children who use wheelchairs, the story shows how a routine piece of mobility equipment can become part of a family's holiday celebration rather than a barrier to it. The tradition also reflects a practical approach to inclusion: adapting the setting around a child so they can take part fully in community events.
Chris Nesin has built the costume around Effie's wheelchair for eight years, with prior designs including Thomas the Tank Engine and a front-loader. The front-loader version let Effie take part in a Halloween celebration at Siskin Children's Institute.
The players
Chris Nesin
Father of Effie who has designed the wheelchair costumes for eight straight years.
Siskin Children's Institute
Chattanooga-area facility where Effie took part in a Halloween celebration while dressed in the front-loader costume.
The details
Chris Nesin builds each costume by turning Effie's wheelchair into a character or imaginative creation, so the mobility device becomes the centerpiece of the outfit. The approach keeps Effie seated and comfortable while letting her join the festivities in costume. The family describes the goal as making sure Effie is included, celebrated, and able to enjoy the holiday with her friends, who she loves spending time with alongside music and singing.
Timeline
Chris Nesin has made the wheelchair costume for eight consecutive Halloweens, with the most recent occurring on October 31, 2026.
The Home Front
Adaptive equipment such as pediatric wheelchairs is commonly customized by families to fit home routines and special occasions. Local accessibility tradition of this kind rarely appears in household budgeting discussions, but it shapes how families plan holiday activities.
If your child uses a wheelchair, consider whether a lightweight costume shell or removable decoration could be planned in advance to keep the device stable and safe. Check with your child's occupational therapist or equipment provider before attaching anything to a mobility device.
The takeaway
A custom costume can make a wheelchair part of the celebration rather than a limit on it, and families can plan these adaptations early. Ask your child's equipment provider before adding any attachments to a wheelchair.
Further reading
For more stories on adapting daily life for children with disabilities, see Special Needs coverage in Chattanooga.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WTVCFOX.
