Quiet time with Santa a gift all its own for children with autism
For children with autism, a visit to the mall at Christmas time can be sensory overload. That's why three Ottawa shopping centres opened their doors early this weekend.
For children with autism, a visit to the mall at Christmas time can be sensory overload. That's why three Ottawa shopping centres opened their doors this weekend — in some cases early — to allow special visits with Santa.
The organization QuickStart-Early Intervention for Autism set up three one-hour sessions for children on the autism spectrum in Ottawa over the weekend: one at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre on Saturday and one hour each at the Rideau Centre and Hazeldean Mall on Sunday.
- ON MOBILE? Watch Ashley Burke's report here.
And as Ashley Burke reports in the video above, the experience of a stress-free meeting with Santa Claus was a joy for both the children and their parents.