Have you thought about making sure Santa is accessible by giving him deaf awareness training before his work starts in the grotto, so deaf children are included when they meet Santa?
My experience with Santa has always been difficult. Can you guess why?
Where is Santa's lips?
It’s because I couldn’t lipread him, his long white beard was covering his lips. I couldn’t even see his facial expression. I have two children and it’s even worse that I couldn’t help my son who is deaf and tell him what Santa was saying. And my daughter had to communicate with him herself while I had no idea what Santa was saying. I had to rely on an elf to help me as I could lipread them!
It would be lovely, and you could say essential for Santa to learn a little deaf awareness before his work starts in December. Think of all the deaf children who are excited to see Santa but are thinking
“How will I understand Santa and read his lips?”
“What if Santa asks what I want for Xmas and I signed to him, but he doesn’t know what I said?” “Can Santa sign?”
“I want to communicate with Santa just the same as other children.”
“I don’t want to see Santa because I can’t communicate with him.”
Young deaf children should be included the same as other children and because it’s only one month out of the whole year, deaf awareness training should be part of his role to learn before he starts in December. You could even find someone who can sign, or maybe even find an elf who can sign, and they can help the children communicate with Santa. Think about the amazing experience you would create for the children who are deaf.
Inclusion is important and this is THE most important month where you should be inclusive for deaf children. All the Christmas staff who work in retail, in malls, or work in events etc should think about being more inclusive and learn how to be deaf aware.
If my son met Santa or an elf and was able to communicate with him 100%, or even me as a deaf mum, I could give my children the best experience and feel included just like other families. It’s such a special time of the year for families and I don’t want my children to have a different experience because of barriers. It’s hard and very upsetting for me.
I always research every year, to try to find places to go to visit Santa where we will feel comfortable. I hadn’t really found one until this year. It was the best experience seeing my children’s happy faces and the magical feeling we all had.
I saw an advert for ‘The Elf Workshop’ in Princes Square. I love Princes Square, especially at Christmas, and thought this would be something we could try.
When we arrived, we saw the Elf Workshop and WOW, it looked beautiful and we were so excited. I was like the biggest kid. I love Christmas!
Inside The Elf's Workshop in Princes Square, Glasgow
Inside the workshop there was an elf who came and opened the front door. We all went in and sat on the bench in a room which was decorated like a living room. There was a fireplace, a chair and a big Christmas tree. Above the bench there were elf hats hanging up for the children. They all put their hats on and were ready to be elves.
There was another elf whose name was Tracy. Tracy the elf took eight children, including my two, into the workshop. I stayed for 10 minutes and watching my children having so much fun, I thought I would do a wee bit of Christmas shopping in Princes Square. It is a beautiful place; they have this huge Christmas tree, and it was very Christmassy. After an hour and a half, I went back to the workshop and saw my children busy doing crafts. After they tidied away, Santa came in to visit them. Each child had a special moment with Santa, and he took his time to speak to all of the children.
Tracy the elf was amazing! I could lipread her and she made sure everyone was included. She would talk to Santa and then when he spoke, she would repeat the words he had said. I felt included and was able to share these special and magical memories with my children.
After being at this event, I knew that it was time to tell you all my story and write this blog. The more I share my barriers and struggles, especially at this time of the year, I hope this makes people realise how important it is to be accessible, particularly at this special time for younger deaf children who want, and need, to be included.
Taking deaf awareness training, understanding deaf awareness, and making sure you are inclusive, will be recognised by us and more people will support you. You will find even more people coming to your events or retail stores because you are including deaf people, and other disabilities too.
How special is this!
This is an example everyone should follow. No child should be left out.
I really want this blog to be out there, spreading awareness, because it’s so important and lets more people realise who they are excluding. If you made your event as inclusive as possible and really thought all of this through, think of the people you would have coming to your events, deaf people/children, other people with disabilities, families etc.
Making eye contact is important
Will you be making sure your Christmas events or any of Santa’s Grottos are accessible to ALL children and include them? To become deaf aware, deaf awareness training is the best place to start. If you really would like to be more accessible in everything throughout the year and would like to find out how, check out my 1:1 consulting where we can chat more about how I can help you achieve your goals to make your business or store accessible for deaf people/children.
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