For the last 11 years, Santa has made a special stop at the Thompson Center to provide a holiday experience with some extra support and consideration for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Visiting Santa can be an overwhelming experience. There’s a lot of pressure when meeting a legend, especially one who determines the naughty and nice lists! Traditional meet-and-greets with St. Nick, like those at shopping malls or department stores, usually involve music, loud sounds, and large crowds. This can be too much for some children with autism.
The Thompson Center team works diligently to provide a magical holiday experience with the needs of neurodivergent children in mind. Visits with Santa are by appointment only, which eliminates the throngs of people and time spent waiting in a line. The waiting room has holiday treats, coloring pages, and a movie playing softly to pass the time until the big man and his elf are ready to see them in the North Pole room. The North Pole is small enough to provide a sense of intimacy and prevent elopement, but large enough that children who feel overwhelmed or fearful can interact with Santa from a distance. Lora Hinkel, a.k.a. the pink elf, is a speech-language pathologist, Thompson Foundation board member, and parent of a son with autism and a son with ADHD. Thompson Center patients may recognize the portrait photographer from previous Santa visits or from clinic appointments; Tammy Hickman has been a nurse at the Thompson Center for more than 15 years. In addition, at least one of the North Pole helpers is trained in crisis intervention and available to assist if a behavioral issue escalates.
Thanks to generous support from the Thompson Foundation, each child received a personalized gift from Santa during their visit. Each family was also given a copy of “Frankie and Finn,” a book co-authored by Miss Missouri Hayley Leach and her brother, Matthew. In honor of Matthew, Hayley’s platform is autism awareness and acceptance.
News coverage of Santa’s visit is available from KOMU.
