Santa loves all children (and adults!). No exceptions, he’s just a loving person.
So it is always special when others help Santa reach other kids than those who manage in mainstream situations.
Sitting on Santa’s lap is a delight for many children and all should have the opportunity.
Quiet Santa times
There is a shopping mall in Novia Scotia, Canada, where autistic children can have private chats with Santa in a quiet room that has fewer decorations.
I think that is a wonderful idea to allow those children to experience sitting on Santa’s lap (or beside him), knowing that the noise, movement and crowds in a normal Santa situation could easily overwhelm children on the autism spectrum.
I have heard of other places in the past doing this, too.
The Sensitive Santa Project, run in Nillumbik Council in Victoria is a similar program being run this year. And Sensory Santa 2016 is encouraging shopping centre to hold more quiet Santa visit options – it lists centres across Queensland, NSW and WA that will offer Santa visits this coming Sunday (20 November).
Santa signing to deaf children
Last year, I was just as moved by the story of Santa using sign language to chat with Tilly in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and to communicate with a three-year-old girl, Mali, in Cleveland, USA.
That Cleveland Centre will have Santa signing again this year, as will a school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Back in Australia, some 2016 Christmas and Santa events including Auslan are:
- The Vicdeaf Christmas Rally on 4 December in Hay’s Paddock, Victoria
- Signing Santa library visits in Watsonia and Rosanna, Victoria
- Carols by Kingston on 13 December in Highett Victoria will have an Auslan interpreter
Other inclusive Santa experiences?
Have you ever experienced an inclusive Santa experience somewhere? Did you see it make a difference to children who may otherwise have missed out on something that most other kids take for granted?
Writing letters is one way Santa shows his love for children.
Do you know of any others coming up in Australia this year as I’d love them to be shared and become more common.
Important notes
Santa of course loves all children and will communicate with them as best he can (writing letters to children is obviously a key way he communicates!). But because he is such a busy many, he has some other Santa helpers who take his place in some shopping centres and the like so more children can experience being with a Santa. And that’s why not all Santas you see can use Auslan, other sign languages or communicate in other ways and languages.
I am sure there are many more inclusive Santa events in Australia (and outside of Victoria!), but the ones above were the only ones I easily found via Google. If you know of others, please share them in the comments.
