Kind mall Santa goes above and beyond to accommodate boy with autism

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CHARLOTTE, NC (WTXF) A heartwarming photo is making the rounds online showing a mall Santa going to extra lengths to make a young autistic boy's experience enjoyable.

The photo, taken during an Autism Speaks Caring Santa event in Charlotte, North Carolina, was sent to Autism Speaks by a member of their Family Services team, Maeghan Pawley.

Maeghan told the organization that when it came time for the little boy in the photo to meet Santa, his parents were unable to convince him to sit on Santa's lap.

"So this compassionate, and not so young, Santa got down on the floor and came to the boy," Autism Speaks wrote.

"The whole staff (Santa included) was overly accommodating for all of our kids, really trying to get the best picture and create the best experience possible, regardless of how much time or patience was needed to do so," said Pawley.

When it came time for the young man in the photo to meet Santa, his parents couldn't convince him to sit on Santa's lap. #GivingTuesday