No bells, no flashing lights, no loud Christmas music, and no hearty Ho Ho Hos — only a soft, man-made snow falling quietly outside and a loveable Santa to share a Christmas wish with inside.
This was the city of Murrieta-sponsored “Sensory Santa” event held Tuesday night, Dec. 3, at the city’s Youth Center, designed for neurodivergent individuals and those of all ages with adaptive needs.
Neurodivergence is when a person’s brain processes information differently. Merriam-Webster defines neurodivergent as “having or relating to a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information.”
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Some neurodivergent individuals have sensitivity to bright lights, temperatures, crowds of people, and loud noises. Event organizers worked to avoid such things at the “Sensory Santa” event on Tuesday.
The event, hosted by the Adult Singles Ministry, featured photos with Santa, hot cocoa, man-made snow, and crafts.
The Adult Singles Ministry is a group that offers fun, fellowship and encouragement to single adults and single parents. The group is not affiliated with any one particular church. For more information about the group, email ASMmurrieta@gmail.com.
