Sensory-Friendly Santa visits children at TIRR Memorial Hermann The Woodlands

For the third year, TIRR Memorial Hermann – The Woodlands Pediatric Rehabilitation held a special sensory-friendly Santa event for patients and their families.

Not all children are able to enjoy the traditional visit to see Santa Claus. Some can’t handle the crowds, the lights, loud sounds or music. Not because they are impatient, but because they have autism, cerebral palsy or another condition that prevents them from fundamentally processing external input like other children.

At TIRR Memorial Hermann – The Woodlands Pediatric Rehabilitation, patients could sign up, in advance, for a 10-minute block of time with Santa. There was no line, no lights or crowds. The controlled and sensory-friendly environment allowed the children to enjoy a few moments with Santa and not have to struggle with additional external stressors.

“We wanted something calming for our kids to come see Santa and celebrate the holidays,” said Katelyn Navarro, physical therapist with TIRR Memorial Hermann – The Woodlands.

Kassadi Aguilar, mother of 5-year-old patient, shared, “This was a lot more sensory friendly. Very calming around the people that she knows…[at] TIRR… So she knows the therapist and all of the staff there. This is a lot better than having to go through the overstimulation of a mall visit for Santa.”

View photos taken at the event by Rod Prado / Hello Woodlands on the Hello Woodlands Facebook page:

Source: TIRR Memorial Hermann

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