It’s a known fact that Santa Claus loves and respects all children, but we think he has a special place in his heart for the kids who struggle in their daily lives just a little bit more.
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Misty Wolf’s son Matthew is one of those kids. Matthew is both blind and on the autism spectrum, so he has special needs that most strangers wouldn’t know how to accommodate.
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Thankfully, Santa is a stranger to no child; on a recent visit to the North Pole, Misty learned firsthand how far Saint Nick will go to make a child feel comfortable and secure in his presence.
Like most boys his age, Matthew is very interested in Santa. Since he’s blind, he was having a hard time picturing what Santa might look like based on descriptions alone, so Misty knew her son would want to explore using his hands as much as he could. As the family approached Santa, Misty leaned in to his ear and whispered, “He is blind and autistic and is very interested in Santa.”
“Say no more,” Santa told her.
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Santa immediately got down on the floor to greet Matthew, chatting with him about school, family, and other important topics. He also let Matthew touch him all over so that the child could “see” what Santa looks like, allowing the child to tug on his beard, feel the pom pom on his hat, and stroke the soft velvet of his coat.
“He asked Matthew if he wanted to feel anything and Matthew said ‘your eyes that twinkle’ (from the poem ‘Twas the night before Christmas),” Misty explained. “So Santa let him touch all over his eyes for as long as Matthew wanted.”
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Isn’t that just the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen? Just look at them! What a truly beautiful moment.
“Then Santa said ‘have you ever felt a real reindeer?’ Santa then carried him over to the display area. And had Matthew pet the taxidermy reindeer they had set up,” wrote Misty. “It was great. My heart was full seeing Matthew so interested.”
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Santa recognized that Matthew is just like any other curious child, yet he adjusted his expectations and approach accordingly. This is how all of us should react to a child with special needs; they’re just kids, first and foremost. What can we do to help them feel as comfortable and secure in their environment as we feel? There’s always something we can do to be inclusive and kind.
Thank you to the Santa in Euless, Texas who gave Matthew such a special and personalized experience. Be sure to share this story to spread the love just a little bit further.
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