Bradley Carlisle, a 37-year-old community theater actor from suburban Atlanta, has been inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame after completing a training program at Atlanta’s Northern Lights Santa Academy. Carlisle, who has Down’s syndrome, is recognized as the first professional Santa Claus with Down’s syndrome in the United States. His mother, Debbie Chadrix, said his journey began at the 2023 holiday party of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta (DSAA), where the organization’s executive director suggested that Carlisle, due to his love for acting, could be a Santa who "looks like the kids" attending the event. Carlisle initially had a fear of Santa Claus, associating the white gloves with medical providers from his past. However, a Santa who removed his gloves helped Carlisle feel more comfortable. He then accepted the role and interacted with over 200 children at the DSAA event. His performance was noted for making children feel seen and understood, as they recognized in him someone who looked and spoke like them. Carlisle’s story gained media attention during his second Christmas season as Santa. He attended a four-day course at the Northern Lights Santa Academy, which is described as the second largest institution of its kind in the US. The training included topics such as dressing appropriately for the role, maintaining a white beard, and handling difficult questions from children. At a ceremony on 23 August, Phil Wenz of the Santa Claus Oath Foundation honored Carlisle with a badge, enshrining him as an honorary member of the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame. Wenz noted that Carlisle had already shown "a magnified sensitivity" to those with Down’s syndrome, which set him apart from others in the Claus family. Carlisle’s photograph was also to be displayed in New York City’s Times Square as part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which begins on 1 October, Bradley’s birthday. His mother emphasized that Carlisle’s induction was not solely due to his condition but because of his unique ability to connect with others. Carlisle expressed that he enjoys being Santa because he likes to help the children, and he described slipping into his Santa suit as feeling "like love."