For one day next week, families have the chance to book a time slot to take their child with autism to sit on Santa’s knee, without the stress of lining up or being rushed along by excited crowds.

Erin Fischer is the mother of two children with autism, Kaleb and Flynn Fischer.  

She said both of her boys love Christmas but the family had to avoid going to supermarkets at all in December.

“Our eldest can’t cope, it’s way too noisy. He’s hyper sensitive to sounds, so he hears things we can’t. He can’t focus on me and he’s likely to run off,” she said.

Mrs Fischer pushed for the initiative in Orange last year, having taken her boys to get their photo taken with a Sensitive Santa on the North Coast.

The centre’s marketing manager Jacqueline McCulloch said Mr and Mrs Claus at north Orange were only too happy to take up the idea, especially as Mr Claus has his own experience with disability as he uses a wheelchair.

She said she hoped families took advantage of having uninterrupted time with Mr and Mrs Claus next Wednesday.

“It’s great for their parents to get the photo,” she said.

Call 0432 276 369 to book.