A deaf schoolgirl has been able to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas for the first time thanks to an elf - who is trained in sign language.
Emily Andrews, four, was captured in a heartwarming video reeling off her wish list via Melanie Boyeson, who acted as an interpreter for the youngster.
The 'magical' clip shows Emily asking for a doll, pram, earrings and a ring using sign language while Melanie relays the message to Father Christmas.
She'd previously been let down four times by grotto attractions which promised a British Sign Language (BSL) service but failed.
Mum Tanya Andrews, 35, said it 'amazing' to see 'everyone become part of Emily's world' after an online appeal.
She said: "It was just a magical experience. Emily being able to communicate freely with the elf and tell Santa what she wanted was just amazing. "
"After the experience I was in tears, it was so magical to see Emilys face light up. "
"It made Emily feel included and everyone became part of her world."
"At first she was a little bit shy, probably because shes never been able to communicate with Santa before, but Melanie was so encouraging. "
"A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this magical moment possible."
Tanya has taken Emily to four grottos over the years but every time they have been falsely promised an experience with a Santa who knows sign language.
She said she was able to 'be in the moment' instead of having to translate what Santa has said to Emily.
She said: "It just leaves us disappointed, Emily is only young so she is unaware but I've had to step in and translate for her. "
"For this experience, I was actually able to step back and record it on my phone."
"It was amazing for me for to be able to step back and not have the involvement and have to translate it. "
"I could actually be in the moment instead of being part of it - I was able to enjoy it instead."
Emily, who was born profoundly deaf, met Father Christmas with her older brother Hugo, six, at a Santa's Grotto event held at his school in Goole, East Yorks.
Airmyn Park Primary had heard about the family's struggles and took to social media to search for an interpreter for their festive fair.
Tanya re-posted a video on social media of a girl going to a grotto where there was a BSL interpreter and said how she would love Emily to have that experience.
Natalie Dodds, school's headteacher, launched the appeal and organised for Melanie to visit the grotto.
She said: "Through the power of Facebook we found Holly the Elf, whose real name is Melanie Boyeson, and she volunteered to visit our grotto and interpret for Emily. "
"Even Santa practiced a few of the basic greetings in BSL too."
"Even though Emily isnt a pupil here she is part of our extended school family. "
"As a small school we are privileged to be able to embrace the wider school and village community and we wanted to provide this experience for Emily."
Tanya is now calling for places to be more inclusive, so Emily and Hugo can both have the same experience.
The communications support worker said: "I've got a hearing son so he can speak to anyone because everyone knows English. "
"But with Emily, her language is BSL so I want to make the experience inclusive for them both and don't want one of them singled out."
"I want to make sure everything is as inclusive for Emily as it is for my son."
"I want to break up barriers for the deaf community. "
"It's not just for deaf children because deaf parents take their children to grottos and if they go to an experience, then they can be part of it as well."
This footage is being managed exclusively by Newsflare. To license this video email [email protected] or call: +44 (0) 203 937 6280
