HUDSON – Halloween can be one of the most exciting times of year for most kids as they decide what their costume will be when they go trick-or-treating. For many, picking that costume may be one of the most difficult choices they’ll have to make.

But for others, the choices of costumes aren’t so extensive, and for those who are wheelchair-bound or have other physical impairments, finding a Halloween costume is not exactly an easy task.

This is where Magic Wheelchair, national a nonprofit organization that builds Halloween costumes comes into play. The nonprofit has chapters scattered across the country to build costumes for kids in wheelchairs at no cost to the families.

On Thursday, Magic Wheelchair’s Hudson chapter revealed its latest build at Hills Garrison Elementary School by presenting third-grader Ella Gordon with a Hogwarts Express Harry Potter costume.

Gordon was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) shortly after turning age 1.

Those close to Gordon describe her as an independent “sassy and silly” 8-year-old who loves superheroes, princesses and Harry Potter.

Gordon was able to show off her costume Thursday afternoon by riding through the halls while her fellow classmates, teachers, staff and local police officers lined the hallways to cheer for her. Harry Potter music blared throughout the school for an added touch to the costume.

The costume was built so that it could be placed on top of Gordon’s wheelchair, while still allowing her the ability to control her chair.

“I think this provides an opportunity to demonstrate that regardless of mobility restrictions, regardless of disability, Halloween can be an inclusive holiday and really everyone should be able to participate in any holiday,” Ethan Beals, a member of the Magic Wheelchair Hudson team, said.

This was the Hudson chapter’s first reveal.

Beals, who participated in the University of New Hampshire’s chapter of Magic Wheelchair, said after college he missed the rewarding experience that participating in a build provided him, so with the help of a couple of his family members, they started their own chapter.

The Hudson chapter now consists of a group of local parents and high school students.

During the last few months, the group met with Ella, who had a couple of different costumes in mind, but she ultimately decided she wanted to be the Hogwarts Express train from Harry Potter.

Together, members of the group begin brainstorming different ideas and materials that they would need to build this costume.

The group has met, for the most part, every Saturday morning for the last few months in preparation for the reveal. To help with materials, the national organization sets up a fundraiser for its chapters. Beals said for the most part, donations tend to come through as the club gets more experience.

“With my experience at UNH, there’s been different community partners that you partner with… maybe a hardware store provides materials. In the past at UNH, we’ve also partnered up with restaurants,” Beals said.

For the group, it’s about more than building great costumes. It’s about bringing equality to those with disabilities.

“Ultimately, the kind of the idea that the club was founded on, and it’s a very valid one, is that you look around at the average able-bodied child or student and they have no problem really doing whatever costume they want for Halloween, but ultimately, kids in wheelchairs or kids with various disabilities who have mobility restrictions their costumes haven’t been inclusive with their different wheelchairs or mobility devices,” Beals said.

Gordon is currently using a power wheelchair but is looking for a service dog to help her be more independent with daily tasks.

Her family is looking to raise $10,000 and will be hosting a spaghetti dinner and auction on Saturday at Campbell High School.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.