Deaf Santa travels across US to spread Christmas joy via sign language

Charles Graves, a 53-year-old deaf man in the United States, claims he never had the chance to express his Christmas wishes to Santa, as his family did not sign his wishes, a common occurrence, according to the National Association of the Deaf.

Speaking to People, Graves recalled: "My Christmas memories consist of watching my siblings chat with Santa Claus while all I got was a thumbs up and a pat on the back. That reality is true for children all over the world."

Graves and his 47-year-old wife Kari, who is also deaf, decided to travel across the US as Santa and Mrs Claus to help solve that problem by spreading the holiday cheer among children, interacting with them using American Sign Language.

"Each child deserves to see a Santa Claus that they can understand and relate to," Graves said.

One of Graves’ stops each year is Gaylord National Resort near Washington, in addition to a handful of other Gaylord resorts and some spots in his home state of Texas.

"We are grateful there's enough acceptance out there to outweigh the ‘nos,’” he said while talking about booking jobs each season.

Graves, who is also an educator at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, attended "Santa School" like many of his colleagues, and said that he's busy thinking about Christmas when nobody else is ahead of each holiday season.

However, he also said: "At the very end of the day, when I sit with the children and connect with them, that's why I do this.”

It's particularly meaningful to do it alongside his wife, he adds. "I could never be Santa Claus without my Mrs Claus," he says.

While Graves enjoys every interaction he has with the kids he meets, he also loves seeing parents react when he clicks with their children.

"When I see the joy on parents' faces surpass the awe in the children's eyes," he said, "I know we're etching a core memory."