Visiting Santa in the lead up to Christmas is a must for many children, but for youngsters who have sensory disorders, it can be a challenge.
This year, however, children in the Dandenong area with conditions such as autism can visit Santa during dedicated low-key sessions.
The initiative was developed by the GPT Group in conjunction with Amaze Victoria, which supports children on the autism spectrum, as well as their families. The scheme was trialled last year and has now been widened to include eight malls across the country.
At Dandenong Plaza, Sensitive Santa is already in place and ready for visits from children who need a little extra help. Santa will also be in residence at Parkmore shopping centre from Tuesday December 3.
Special sessions have been set up on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:00am to 9:00am for families with children who need extra support. The shopping centres are not open at these times and places can be booked, which means children do not have to spend time standing in long and noisy queues waiting for their turn.
The Santas have also been given special training to help them make the visit less stressful and more fun for the children and their parents.
Printing services enable each family to receive one complimentary photo from their visit, and more can be purchased if desired.
Both Santas will be at their grottos until Saturday December 21. For more information on bookings, contact the shopping centres directly.
