Kids with autism and other sensory sensitivities often feel overwhelmed in malls?particularly around Christmas, when shopping centres are full of bright lights, loud music and harried shoppers. But that doesn?t mean kids on the spectrum don?t want to meet with Father Christmas.
Thankfully there are more and more ?Sensitive Santa? events happening across the country to offer kids prone to sensory overload the chance to share their Christmas list in a low-key environment with a Father Christmas who has undergone special training.

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Fear of Santa: It's OK to skip the photo op
Until Christmas Eve in Toronto, at the Eaton Centre, for a $10 donation to Autism Speaks Canada and Eva?s Initiative, you can book a one-on-one appointment with Santa. Your child?s visit will be calm and without any waiting in line.
For the first Christmas ever at McAllister Place in St John, a soft-spoken Santa will be greeting New Brunswick kids with sensory sensitivities. No need to climb on his lap?he?ll get down and talk and play with kids on the floor. Sensitive Santa is coming to town on Sunday December 10, 2017, from 9-11.
In Edmonton, at Londonderry Mall, Silent Santa will be dropping in two more times this year (December 11 and 18) for 5- or 10-minute visits...