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| Santa Claus comes to autism-friendly grottos across UK Santa Claus comes to autism-friendly grottos across UK | |
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| With the bright lights, colourful gifts and jolly presence of Father Christmas, Santa’s grottos are a seasonal favourite for families across the UK. But not all children are able to enjoy them. | With the bright lights, colourful gifts and jolly presence of Father Christmas, Santa’s grottos are a seasonal favourite for families across the UK. But not all children are able to enjoy them. |
| For thousands of children in Britain diagnosed with autism, the trip to sit on Santa’s knee can be a frightening mix of huge crowds and loud noises, a charity has said. | For thousands of children in Britain diagnosed with autism, the trip to sit on Santa’s knee can be a frightening mix of huge crowds and loud noises, a charity has said. |
| This year, dozens of autism-friendly Santa’s grottos have opened around the UK, launched by parents who want their children to be able to join in a magical part of Christmas without feeling distressed. | This year, dozens of autism-friendly Santa’s grottos have opened around the UK, launched by parents who want their children to be able to join in a magical part of Christmas without feeling distressed. |
| Instead of the huge queues, which can induce panic in some children with autism, the grottos have scheduled appointments or host only small groups. There are no flashing lights, Santa has been trained and the loud music has been replaced with a sensory room where the children can relax. | Instead of the huge queues, which can induce panic in some children with autism, the grottos have scheduled appointments or host only small groups. There are no flashing lights, Santa has been trained and the loud music has been replaced with a sensory room where the children can relax. |
| Jo-Ann D’Costa-Manuel, founder of the charity Autism Parent Empower, said more than a thousand parents had contacted her to say they were thrilled about her launch of an autism-friendly Santa’s grotto in Crawley, Sussex. | Jo-Ann D’Costa-Manuel, founder of the charity Autism Parent Empower, said more than a thousand parents had contacted her to say they were thrilled about her launch of an autism-friendly Santa’s grotto in Crawley, Sussex. |
| “For some families this will be the first time they will get the opportunity to experience the magic of Santa with their child,” she said. “For other families, who feel extremely isolated and misunderstood, they are comforted that awareness and acceptance is now unfolding into the mainstream and nationwide, too. A parent contacted me to say this was the first time in nine years she was able to take her son [to the grotto] – now that is what Christmas spirit is truly all about.” | “For some families this will be the first time they will get the opportunity to experience the magic of Santa with their child,” she said. “For other families, who feel extremely isolated and misunderstood, they are comforted that awareness and acceptance is now unfolding into the mainstream and nationwide, too. A parent contacted me to say this was the first time in nine years she was able to take her son [to the grotto] – now that is what Christmas spirit is truly all about.” |
| Lynn Westerman Holt said taking her 11-year-old son, Alexander, to the local Santa’s grotto was a “disaster” for years. “The noise of the crowd, the heat of the crowd, the smell of the perfume, the flashing lights. That’s when you see the meltdown,” she said. | Lynn Westerman Holt said taking her 11-year-old son, Alexander, to the local Santa’s grotto was a “disaster” for years. “The noise of the crowd, the heat of the crowd, the smell of the perfume, the flashing lights. That’s when you see the meltdown,” she said. |
| There is also anecdotal evidence that the autism-friendly grottos may be helping some children who find it difficult to communicate. Westerman Holt, who helped set up an autism-friendly grotto in the Yorkshire town of Wetherby, said she cried when Alexander – who has nonverbal autism – was able to talk to Father Christmas. | There is also anecdotal evidence that the autism-friendly grottos may be helping some children who find it difficult to communicate. Westerman Holt, who helped set up an autism-friendly grotto in the Yorkshire town of Wetherby, said she cried when Alexander – who has nonverbal autism – was able to talk to Father Christmas. |
| “Although he’s now 11 and neurotypical 11-year-olds probably don’t believe in Father Christmas any more, he almost didn’t have any concept of Christmas until he was six or seven,” she said. “Now he’s getting the real wonder and magic of it. He believes he’s really talking to Father Christmas.” | “Although he’s now 11 and neurotypical 11-year-olds probably don’t believe in Father Christmas any more, he almost didn’t have any concept of Christmas until he was six or seven,” she said. “Now he’s getting the real wonder and magic of it. He believes he’s really talking to Father Christmas.” |
| Westerman Holt helped launch her local autism-friendly grotto three years ago with the charity Autism Angels. What started with 20 children had this year grown to 100, some of whom travelled more than two hours to visit Santa. | Westerman Holt helped launch her local autism-friendly grotto three years ago with the charity Autism Angels. What started with 20 children had this year grown to 100, some of whom travelled more than two hours to visit Santa. |
| She added: “When you’re the parent of a child with autism you do feel very isolated because Christmas is supposed to be a really magical time. It’s supposed to be like it is on the TV and the movies and everyone’s playing happy families. That heightens the difference between your family and the typical family – it is quite lonely and it is heartbreaking.” | She added: “When you’re the parent of a child with autism you do feel very isolated because Christmas is supposed to be a really magical time. It’s supposed to be like it is on the TV and the movies and everyone’s playing happy families. That heightens the difference between your family and the typical family – it is quite lonely and it is heartbreaking.” |
| Kerrie Stephenson set up a similar Santa’s grotto in York after her three-year-old son, Jack, was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. About 45 children attended and the idea proved so popular that the parents are planning autism-friendly Easter egg hunts and a Halloween event – without the scary costumes. | Kerrie Stephenson set up a similar Santa’s grotto in York after her three-year-old son, Jack, was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. About 45 children attended and the idea proved so popular that the parents are planning autism-friendly Easter egg hunts and a Halloween event – without the scary costumes. |
| “I had parents crying, telling me it was the most relaxed the children had been, people weren’t judged,” she said. “I’ve had lots of parents saying to me it was awful queueing, their child screaming, too many people dressed up. We didn’t have any music on and the only person dressed up was Santa.” | “I had parents crying, telling me it was the most relaxed the children had been, people weren’t judged,” she said. “I’ve had lots of parents saying to me it was awful queueing, their child screaming, too many people dressed up. We didn’t have any music on and the only person dressed up was Santa.” |
| Daniel Cadey, autism access development manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “It is really heartening to see people making autism-friendly Santa’s grottos. Like anyone else, autistic people and their families want the opportunity to join in Christmas festivities. But many children on the autism spectrum rely on routine and their sensory sensitivities mean they can find the busy, loud and unpredictable environment of Santa’s grottos disorientating and overwhelming. | Daniel Cadey, autism access development manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “It is really heartening to see people making autism-friendly Santa’s grottos. Like anyone else, autistic people and their families want the opportunity to join in Christmas festivities. But many children on the autism spectrum rely on routine and their sensory sensitivities mean they can find the busy, loud and unpredictable environment of Santa’s grottos disorientating and overwhelming. |
| “Our Too Much Information campaign highlights the need for greater public understanding of autism, so autistic people and their families aren’t left socially isolated. The loud music and crowds – even the look and feel of lots of decorations – can make public spaces during the holiday period particularly overwhelming, so it’s fantastic to see businesses and individuals taking it on themselves to make the often small adjustments necessary to create autism-friendly alternatives that allow autistic children and their families the chance to take part in their local Christmas cheer.” | “Our Too Much Information campaign highlights the need for greater public understanding of autism, so autistic people and their families aren’t left socially isolated. The loud music and crowds – even the look and feel of lots of decorations – can make public spaces during the holiday period particularly overwhelming, so it’s fantastic to see businesses and individuals taking it on themselves to make the often small adjustments necessary to create autism-friendly alternatives that allow autistic children and their families the chance to take part in their local Christmas cheer.” |