The Westfield Valencia Town Center hosted an early morning photo opportunity with Santa Claus for families who need a sensory-friendly environment on Sunday.
Families waited in line to get a photo with the jolly man himself, taking advantage of the calmer environment of this particular session.
One mother, Linda Luna-Garcia, brought her sons, Gabriel, 8, and Anthony, 12, who both have autism.
“I will avoid anything that doesn’t have these types of accommodations just because I don’t want to start the day off and have meltdowns and have all these triggers occur. So, it makes it such that we can, you know, participate in the community events,” Luna-Garcia said.
She added that it makes the event more positive because the family can get their Christmas cards just like everyone else.
“We just want to be included or want to be just like any other family during the holidays,” Luna-Garcia said.
