‘Quiet’ Santas welcome kids with autism across the country

Sitting on Santa’s knee and telling him what your Christmas wishes is a childhood tradition, but for children with autism this isn’t always a reality. Long line-ups, loud music, screaming children, and a busy shopping mall can be too stressful for a child with autism. Enter the Quiet Santa Program – geared to children with autism and special sensitivities. The lights are dimmed, the music is turned off. Often these events, called Quiet Santa or Silent Santa, are held before the mall opens. Malls all over Canada and the US offer the program. To read more about it, click here. To read about some Canadian program highlights, click here.