During the Christmas holiday season, we are bombarded with bright lights, too-loud music and sensory-rich displays. Autism is a complex developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Those with autism and similar conditions are also subjected to the frenzy of the season. This can be very stressful and even overwhelming.
Three-Year-old Anthony was frightened of malls during the holidays until this happened.
Ohio mall offer autistic-friendly Holiday experience for children
A program at a mall in Liberty Township in Ohio is geared toward providing a less stressful holiday experience for those with autism. The experience features low lighting, no music and the opportunity to visit with Santa Claus in a low stress environment. Parents can make an appointment for their child’s visit with Santa. Parents find the experience much easier for their children and themselves, compared to the typical Santa visit.
They’re getting it via “Sensory Visits with Santa,” a two-hour program designed for children with sensory processing disorder, held each Sunday in December prior to opening hours at the $350 million mixed-use project.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- “Sensory Visits with Santa” was created for a two-hour visit with Santa that excludes stimulus that may upset a child with autism or sensory issues.
- Parents praise the program because their children with sensory processing disorder or autism can enjoy Santa without melting down due to noise, lighting, and crowds.
- The “Sensory Visits with Santa” are free and can be scheduled on the same day.
See MTSS for schools
Is your child struggling in school?
Get your free personalized learning roadmap
You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.
- Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
- Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
- You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
- Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly
Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.
Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.
A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
