Sensitive Santa Brings Holiday Joy To Autistic Children [AUDIO]

For the second straight year, Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health and Wellness Center will hold their Sensitive Santa event this Saturday at the Clark facility.

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The event was started last year as a way to ease the process for children with autism to see Santa Claus during the holidays.

Since so many children with this ailment are hypersensitive to noise and lights, the process can be overwhelming.

"So parents taking them to the mall to have pictures taken with Santa is not easy on the parents nor the child," explained Jennifer Mazurkevich, organizer. "Well now we are offering to these families something that they can enjoy and get that picture with Santa."

Parents can set up 20-minute appointments at the facility for children to meet with Santa in a sensory-friendly room, where they'll come out with a good bag, and of course, a picture with the man in red.

Mazurkevich says close to 30 families participated in last year's inaugural event, which drew extremely positive feedback.

"It was overwhelming to see all the happy faces and to see the parents just so happy to see their kid doing normal everyday things."

To help accommodate the autistic children, the room they meet Santa in features low music, dimmed lights and minimal decorations.

"What we want to accomplish is to just give every child, who celebrates Christmas, the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa."

Learn more by calling (732)499-4540 or by visiting Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health and Wellness Center online.

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