From Disability Scoop:
“Sensory-Friendly Santa Coming
To Hundreds Of Locations Nationwide”
(Liam Munnelly visits with Santa
during a sensory-friendly event at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Ill. in 2017.)
As the holiday season gets
underway, hundreds of malls will offer individuals with disabilities a special
opportunity to meet with Santa Claus without the hubbub that such visits often
entail. Roughly 500 shopping centers across the U.S. will host sensory-friendly
events with Santa this year. The reservation-only opportunities will largely
occur outside of normal business hours to provide a less crowded environment
and limit wait times. Santa and other event staff will be trained to
accommodate individuals of all ages with disabilities and lighting and music
will be reduced to ease sensory concerns, according to Cherry Hill Programs,
which organizes the Santa experiences.
Jennifer Schell Podoll, senior
vice president of constituent engagement at Autism Speaks, which helps put on
the events, said that sensory-friendly Santa offers families of those with
disabilities the opportunity to engage in a holiday tradition that many take
for granted. “At Autism Speaks we are dedicated to promoting solutions that
help create a world where all people with autism can reach their full
potential,” she said. “Our work with Cherry Hill Programs has brought us one
step closer to that vision in creating opportunities for every kid to be a kid,
and in allowing all families to embrace the magic of the holiday season.” Most
of the sensory-friendly Santa events will be held this coming Sunday and they
are open to “people of all ages and abilities,” organizers said. There is no
cost to register or attend, but there will be photo packages for sale. The
events are dubbed “Caring Santa” at Simon mall locations and “Sensitive Santa”
at Washington Prime Group malls.
^ It’s important that every child
be able to experience all the joys of the Holidays. ^
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