A trip to see Santa is always exciting to children, but some moms find it a daunting task, never knowing how their child will react when meeting Santa Claus, especially for the first time. Naomi Johnson is one of those moms. Her son Landon has autism, and he felt he needed to share that with Santa to explain why he may have inadvertently landed on the "naughty list," according to The Huffington Post.
"You get the stares when you're at the grocery store if he's too loud, if he's throwing a fit," Johnson said. "He's been told by other people before, 'You don't need t be so naughty,' or 'Why are you naughty?'"
However, this trip to see this Santa brought tears to Landon's mother when upon telling Santa he was autistic, Santa simply replied "It's OK to be you."
The magic in those five simple words was palpable to Johnson, something she knew, but needed someone else to say it. The fact that it was an old man with a funny outfit and a white beard made it all the more special.
"Santa sat him next to him and took L's hands in his and started rubbing them, calming them down. Santa asked L if it bothered him, having Autism? L said yes, sometimes. Then Santa told him it shouldn't. It shouldn't bother him to be who he is," Johnson posted on her Facebook page, according to Fox News. "L told Santa that he sometimes gets in trouble at school and it's hard for people to understand that he has autism, and that he's not a naughty boy."
Smart little 6-year-old boy meets smart Santa, it appears.
Lisa Goring, executive vice president of Programs and Services for Autism Speaks, says that crowded malls can be so overwhelming to many children with autism, so the foundation partners with Simon Malls in 120 locations across the country in late November and early December to give autistic children and their parents a chance at a wonderful Santa experience like they deserve.
"For some they may have trouble waiting in line and some sensory challenges," Goring said, according to ABC News, noting that the lighting, smells and crowds can overload and overwhelm an autistic child's senses. "This is a way to really provide families with an environment that is so welcoming."
This is the second year of the successful partnership with Simon Malls and The Autism Speaks Foundation, and the combined efforts set up times to visit Santa when it is less crowded, also displaying dimmer lighting and quieter music to enhance the experience and not hinder the good time.
"As part of the training, Santas know that they may not have verbal ability...they can use a communication system," to talk to Santa, Goring explained.
The extra effort certainly worked for children like Landon.
"He was the real Santa Claus," raved Landon. We believe Santa has a new lifelong fan.
