Independent Living Support Stories: Hilton’s Halloween Hover
Independent living support stories often highlight life-changing moments — and sometimes, those moments happen on Halloween.
For Hilton, independent living support meant the opportunity to fully participate in his community, enjoy time with his daughter, and experience the joy of a holiday in a way that felt fun, creative, and inclusive. With support from WILS, Hilton’s idea to transform his wheelchair into a UFO costume became a reality.
How Independent Living Support Turned an Idea Into Reality
Liz, an Independent Living Case Manager, visited Hilton’s home to help fit the UFO costume securely to his wheelchair. Together, they talked through comfort, safety, and appearance. They also agreed that Liz would return on Halloween to add final touches Hilton wanted before heading out.
A Halloween Night to Remember
On Halloween, Hilton rolled through his neighborhood in full UFO mode, drawing smiles and plenty of attention. People stopped to comment on how realistic the costume looked, saying it appeared as though he was hovering down the street.
Even more special, Hilton’s daughter joined in, dressed as a bright green alien with a third eye — making the night a shared family memory.
Hilton shared his experience in his own words:
“I’m grateful to WILS for allowing Liz to help me do the UFO costume. I’m grateful to Liz for picking up the ball and running with it. It turned out amazing. As I was down the streets people said man you look like a UFO and look like you’re hovering down the block. It was awesome. I feel blessed to have you. My little princess made the perfect little alien, all green, with a third eye on her forehead. I got a whole bunch of candy. It’s the year of candy. I love it. I’m very thankful.”
Why Independent Living Support Stories Matter
Independent living support stories like Hilton’s remind us that independence includes joy, creativity, family connection, and community inclusion. At WILS, support means helping people live life on their own terms — whether that’s navigating daily tasks or cruising the neighborhood as a UFO on Halloween night.