The Santa Who Signs

Graves continued to make appearances, and at one event in Austin, he met Anthony Mowl, who has a deaf child. Mowl is a creative professional, and together the two began working to bring Deaf Santa Claus to even more kids. They raised money so Graves could attend the International University of Santa Claus — where Santas learn the tricks of the trade — with ASL interpreters on hand to help him interact with teachers and other students. Lessons at Santa school included how to pose for photos and how to respond when kids ask tricky questions such as, “Can you keep my parents from getting divorced?” (The answer is that Santa’s magic is limited to toys.)

Now Graves works with companies that make it possible for him to embody Santa for children and families at events around the country. Not all of the children who use ASL are deaf. Some have deaf parents; others sign because of disabilities such as autism. But whyever they want to see him, Graves says he’s honored to connect with each child in a way that feels natural for them. He knows he’s making a core memory that may last their entire life. And for deaf parents of hearing children, his conversation with a child may be the first time the parent is able to eavesdrop and find out what the child really wants for Christmas. “It’s deeply moving,” Graves says. “At the end of an event, when I return to my hotel, I sometimes find myself shedding a few happy tears.”

Becoming Santa Claus is not an act for Graves, he says: It’s a true part of who he is. “As Deaf Santa, I feel fully seen and accepted, and the children do too,” he explains. “It’s a reminder that each of us can embrace the magic [of the holiday season] in our own way, and be loved for exactly who we are.”