Christmas is an exciting time of year for many people, especially children.
One of the things they most look forward to is meeting Santa Claus, but for some kids, a meet and greet with St.Nicholas can be very overwhelming.
“He goes ‘I want to see Santa and I’m going to give him a hug. It’s going to be so much fun mommy,’” Kelowna mother Lisa McCartney said. “But I know once we get there it won’t be like that.”
McCartney is mom to five year old Jayden who has autism. Warming up to people like Santa takes time for the young boy.
“He panics,” McCartney said.
Jayden, like many autistic children, struggles with loud and busy environments. With Santa meet and greets usually taking place in noisy and busy malls, the experience is often very overwhelming for children with autism.
“They are having to process the people around you, they are having to process the noise, they are having to process Santa and the kids all around them and it’s too much” McCartney said.
With that in mind, a Kelowna couple started a special event called Sensitive Santa.
“We have a son who was diagnosed with non-verbal autism about four years ago and we faced many challenges as all parents do who have children on the spectrum,” organizer Quincy Vrecko said. “Coming to see Santa with all the sensories, the lights, the noise, we found it was pretty much impossible to come in and have a normal family experience.”
The couple, who belong to a group called Autism Okanagan, partnered up with Orchard Park to create the Sensitive Santa event. It takes place after the mall closes when it’s quiet and the lights can be dimmed.
“We had families last year that got their first picture in ten, twelve years that they were able to get with Santa and for us it’s such a memorable time,” Vrecko said.
For Jayden, this marks the second year with Santa Claus.
“The fact everybody is volunteering their time to make Christmas more special for these kids and they get to experience it like other kids in their own environment is absolutely amazing,” a very emotional McCartney said.
Last Christmas, Sensitive Santa was held on one Sunday evening.
There were so many families wanting to sign up this year’s event takes place over two evenings.
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