‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. But one little boy, with autism in his soul, Lay awake, listening to the wind and the cold.

He heard the soft footsteps of Santa on the roof, And the jingle of bells as he moved, hoof to hoof. But the boy did not stir, he just lay in his bed, His mind focused inward, his thoughts in his head.

But Santa, he knew, was a magical man, And he had a special gift for this special little boy, A stuffed animal, soft and cuddly to the touch, To help calm his senses and ease his mind so much.

The boy opened his eyes as he heard Santa’s “Ho, ho, ho!” And saw the gift Santa left, all wrapped up in a bow. He smiled and reached out, his face lit up with joy, As he hugged his new friend, a sweet girl or boy.

And as he fell asleep, with his new friend by his side, He knew that this Christmas would be one to remember with pride. For his family loved him, and Santa loved him too, And that was the best gift he could ever receive, that was true.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Dror Arbel

I'm Dror Arbel, Saar's parent and the founder of 101Autism.com. Saar is an autistic teenager who loves football, cycling and music, plays the piano and paints. Loud sounds can overwhelm him and sudden changes unsettle him, so much of what I write about comes from real life at home and at school. I started 101Autism to share our family's journey and to turn what we have learned about testing, school and daily life into clear, practical guides. I am a parent, not a clinician: I link to research and official sources, and nothing on this site replaces advice from a qualified professional.

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