This year Elizabethtown Community and Technical College student ambassadors will provide a quiet, calm environment for children with special needs to visit Santa. “An Evening with Sensitive Santa” will be held Friday, November 30 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center on the college’s campus. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and will be limited, to assure that the activity is not overwhelming to kids with autism, sensory issues or other disabilities. Reservations must be made by November 27 by contacting Jill Erwin at 270-706-8424 or jerwin0005@kctcs.edu.

Parents and guardians will be welcome to take cell phone photos of Santa with their kids, but a professional photographer will not be available. In addition to Santa, a quiet room will be available for kids to write a letter to Santa, which can be especially helpful for nonverbal children. There will also be a sensory station, some simple Christmas crafts, and Christmas cookies and drinks.

“Sometimes the traditional mall Santa environment is just too stimulating and overwhelming to children with certain disabilities,” said Jill Erwin, Associate Professor of English. “One of our student ambassadors has a child with autism, and she has taken the lead on planning, organizing, and implementing this opportunity for kids who, otherwise, may not have a chance to visit with Santa. The calm, quiet, and dimly lit space, with a Santa trained to address their needs, will provide a very memorable and unique opportunity for these families.” Sensitive Santa is sponsored by Noel Helm and ECTC’s Office of Disability Resources, which provided the funding for a qualified, trained Santa for this special event.

Erwin emphasized the importance of making a reservation, since attendance will be limited to assure a calm environment. Reservations must be made by November 27 by contacting Jill Erwin at 270-706-8424 or jerwin0005@kctcs.edu.