Sensitive Santas help autistic children share in holiday memories

From the AP: For many children with autism, visiting the mall to share Christmas wishes with Santa has never been part of their childhood, a sad but necessary concession to the autism that would make the noise, lights and crowds an unbearable torment.

Now, though, a growing number of "sensitive" Santas in shopping centers, at community parties and elsewhere are giving some of those children a chance to meet the big guy in autism-friendly settings - and providing families a chance to capture elusive Christmas photos and memories that families of typical children may take for granted.

For many families, those small moments captured in pictures and memories are a holiday gift of their own: a chance to go beyond the constraints of autism and experience a Christmas tradition with their children that might not otherwise be possible.

Below are some suggestions from the University of Washington Autism Center for creating a more positive and friendly Santa experience for your child:

• Make a picture book or visual schedule to prepare your child for the event.
• Familiarize your child with the location and setting in advance by taking photos or bringing your child to watch Santa from afar.
• Give your child practice going through the steps of visiting Santa (e.g., waiting in line, walking up the steps to Santa’s chair, etc.) at times when the store or mall is quiet and Santa is not present.
• Bring a toy (such as a squeeze ball) that your child can hold and play with while waiting in line.
• Provide a “First-Then” schedule that illustrates the reward your child will get after the Santa visit.
• Role play with your child how he or she can respond to questions that Santa might ask. Better yet, tell Santa what questions to ask your child.

Consider asking the store or mall management to designate a special time for children with autism to visit Santa. Examples of specific accommodations that might be helpful are:

• Lower or turn off the music.
• Dim the lights.
• Schedule Santa at a time when the mall or store is typically closed to shoppers.
• Provide training to Santa and his helpers about how the social, language, and behavioral features of autism might affect children’s ability to interact with Santa.
• Use masking tape to mark the floor with arrows (to indicate the route that children will take to get to Santa) and “X”s (to indicate where children should stand or sit).
• Create a “quiet area” where children can go if they begin to feel overwhelmed or distressed.
• Create a “play area” where children can go to entertain themselves while waiting for their turn with Santa.
• Use a numbering system so children do not need to stand in line while waiting for their turn.
• Move all delicate or breakable items away from the Santa area.