Deaf Santa is looking to give children with hearing impairments a chance to chat with Santa Claus in they way most comfortable to them.
"They deserve to be able to have a Santa that can communicate with them," says Mary Powers, doubling as Mrs. Claus as part of her son Scott's Deaf Santa initiative. "Everybody should have a Santa they can communicate with."
Scott Powers (left), also known as Deaf Santa, and his mother Mary Powers (right) hold a Deaf Santa event at Cheese Wheelz pizzeria downtown Windsor on November 17, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
The Deaf Santa team which is based in Rochester Hills, Michigan made their first trip over the border to Canada to visit Cheese Wheelz at its downtown Windsor location on Thursday.
There were a team of volunteers all able to sign and welcome both hearing and non-hearing impaired children to meet Santa.
Mrs. Powers — originally from Windsor before moving to the US at 12 years old — says the initiative started seven years ago at a private party and has carried on since because the children enjoy it so much.
"They love it," she says. "One little girl brought him a candy bar one time."
The Deaf Santa group is set to visit Doc Sweets Candy Company in Clawson, Michigan on November 26 as well as Dave and Buster's on Victoria Parkway in Livonia on November 27.