Partnering for Inclusion: Timberlane and Mercer Elementary Join Forces with C.A.T.S. for Adaptive Costumes

At Children’s Assistive Technology Service (C.A.T.S.), we are thrilled to partner with the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation, Timberlane Middle School and Mercer Elementary in a collaboration that brings creativity, engineering, and inclusion together in the most heartwarming way.

This year, the gym at Mercer Elementary was filled with excitement as Timberlane students transformed adaptive wheelchairs into incredible Halloween costumes for children with mobility needs. From princess carriages to fire trucks to Superman designs, each costume was carefully crafted and fitted to ensure every child could fully participate in the fun.

Now in its second year, this inclusive costume project is part of Timberlane’s STEMpathy initiative, which teaches engineering through human-centered problem-solving. Students spent weeks designing, measuring, and building prototypes before finalizing each design in person to meet the unique needs of every child.

The impact was immediate — and unforgettable. Mercer Elementary students, many of whom use wheelchairs or adaptive equipment, became the stars of the morning as they paraded through the hallways to cheers and applause. “Our overlooked population is now the highlight,” shared Mercer teacher Karen Demeter.

The program has grown from 10 costumes last year to 16 this year, with even more on the way — a reflection of both student enthusiasm and community support. Once completed, these amazing creations will be showcased through Hallowheels.org, a national celebration hosted by C.A.T.S., recognizing the incredible ways people across the country design adaptive costumes for children with mobility needs.

Through this partnership, C.A.T.S. is honored to help share the students’ work on a national platform, demonstrating how creativity, compassion, and collaboration can make a lasting impact. Together, we’re showing what’s possible when inclusion is built from the heart — and engineered by students who care deeply about making a difference.

We are so grateful to our partners at Timberlane Middle School and Mercer Elementary for bringing such joy, innovation, and visibility to this year’s Hallowheels celebration. 💙

Read the full story from Mercer Elementary here: Timberlane Students Custom-Build Inclusive Halloween Costumes for Mercer Elementary

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