VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Out of the busy mall and into a calm gym space, Sensitive Santa events returned to Sentara Therapy Centers this year.
The location in the Red Mill area of Virginia Beach brought in the big man in red for a fifth year on Saturday.
“Children that may be autistic or neurodiverse that come to us for therapy," said Paige Ellis, a speech-language pathologist. “It’s a way for children to see Santa in an environment that is less stressful than going to mall where there’s loud noises, there’s crowds. Everything is overstimulating.”
More than 40 children came to the free experience, where they get to meet Santa Claus and sit on his lap for pictures just feet way from the familiar gym where kids might undergo physical therapy during a typical visit.
Then, they move to a craft room staffed with speech and physical therapists they already know.
Organizers at Sentara say this was the busiest year yet, with children ages 2-10 coming out.
“It was wonderful. I love seeing the smile on her face and she was talking about this all day, basically," said Danielle Garlitz, who brought her daughter, Debbie.
Ellis says the knowing the experience will be calm can also help relieve the stress of parents.
The staff members who hosted the Sensitive Santa event did so on their own time. They tell News 3 they plan to continue to host Santa annually as long as the demand is there.
