Mall offers special Santa time for special needs children

Tara Vanhorn, whose young son was diagnosed with autism two years ago, recounted that she took her child to see Santa in the past but it was a disgusting experience for him because the place was loud and crowded.

After he returned from service in the Gulf War, Jefferson dressed up as Santa for his nephews, who were sick and unable to visit Santa at their local mall. But for a nation founded on racist principles and plagued by deeply embedded racial inequities, the advent of a non-white Santa Claus was seen by scores of white people as unjustifiable, a prickly attack on their time-honored tradition of white supremacy.

Thousands of runners dressed as Santa Claus have jogged through a London park to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). “If adults have been lying about Santa, even though it has usually been well intentioned, what else is a lie?” Aside from a photo-op with Santa, kids with autism can also join fun activities such as face painting. Exactly which kids are they talking about, here? “They’re very innocent. They just love Santa“.

“Sensitive Santa” all started when parents at Physical Therapy Services were looking for a Santa meet and greet that was friendly for every child. She had just been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at Riley Hospital, and was a little disconcerted. She didn’t want her 3-year-old to miss this moment.

While her daughter Savannah does not yet have an Austism diagnosis, she said the low-chaos environment helps really helps ease the overall stress of the holiday season.

The Sanchez family and Fedora family visited Quiet Santa on Sunday.

Presley can handle crowds, but she hates lines.

His mom Nicole said they traveled an hour to Plattsburgh for the chance to get a picture of their son with St. Nick. Parents expressed their appreciation for Melching organizing the Sensitive Santa events and more.

More than 30 families met Caring Santa today with some traveling from as far as Joplin. Kids are given toys to play with before meeting Santa.

“I think it’s real important to have the older kids … still be treated like the innocence that they have”, Baxter said.