GABE DICKENS/P-R PHOTO
Amy Levesque of Plattsburgh plays with her 2-year-old daughter, Violet, as she sits on Santa’s lap, while Deb Orlofsky, Violet’s speech therapist, comforts Amy’s 6-month-old son, Phoenix, during Santa Cares at Champlain Centre mall Sunday morning. The annual event, co-sponsored by the mall and SUNY Plattsburgh’s Autism Speaks U, provides children with special needs a quiet and calm atmosphere to enjoy their time with Santa while getting their photo taken. “That’s a photo of a lifetime,” Deb said, referring to the resulting photo that would otherwise have been extremely difficult to get with two autistic children. The mall also hosts a similar event with the Easter Bunny in the spring and sensory friendly movies at Regal Cinemas every month.
