Dear Ms. Pelletiere,
We would like to thank you for your article, “Mom Praises Mall Santa Claus for Kindness Towards Son with Autism” (ABC News, December 8, 2015). It is refreshing to read a positive and heartwarming account, amidst a sea of often sad or violent stories, particularly during the holiday season. Social media can often be a mixed bag, but reports such as yours demonstrate how it may be used to promote kindness—and in this case—autism awareness and acceptance. The gesture of expressing gratitude in the form of a note posted to Facebook by a mom, Naomi Johnson, to the Santa who spent a few extra moments chatting with her son with autism, certainly has had a ripple effect with over 1,000 shares!
Ms. Johnson’s son, Landon, six years old, described his interaction with Santa on their way home from the mall. Santa reassured the boy that that having autism should not bother him, because it’s OK to “be who he was.” He also told Landon he was “not a naughty boy,” although he occasionally gets in trouble and feels misunderstood at school. This Santa truly helped Landon and his family experience the joy of celebrating Christmas by giving them the gift that so often seems challenging for these families: an experience accompanied by acceptance in everyday society.
Acceptance—which means accepting autism-related quirks and purposeful inclusion of individuals with autism in the community, respecting their personal preferences, and creating sensory friendly spaces and experiences in the community—is critical for families affected by autism. Some programs which are already doing this include: the Caring Santa program (Autism Speaks), Sensitivity- Friendly Films program (a joint effort by ‘Autism Society’ and AMC Theaters), Autism-Friendly shows (by Broad Way) and Religious Services for Special Needs (Pittsburgh).
As Ms. Johnson pointed herself out, the gentleman portraying Santa deserved to be recognized, and the simple act of posting her narrative has “given (other families) hope that they can take their children out and be accepted.” We at ASAT hope that by sharing this story in turn with our readers and commending a journalist like you who took the time to cover it, we can add to the ripple effect of kindness and autism acceptance for all of those diagnosed and their families.
Sunita Chhatwani, MSc, MEd, ABA and Elizabeth G. Callahan, MA, BCaBA
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
