Autistic Santino Stagliano started special needs charity

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This month, the group is doing the walk-through routine once again, but the 25-member Santino’s Dragons NYA, featuring children and adults ranging in age from 3 to 20, are the ones doing the strutting. Lisa Stagliano, who is Santino’s mom and the organization’s president, said they decided to make their own brigade.

Stagliano said the kids will be marching as dragons and doing a routine about acceptance and understanding. The routine will start with a fight scene, but by the end of it, they will be doing the Mummers strut together. They will perform to Katy Perry’s “Firework,” and are scheduled to start marching around 11:30 a.m. with the Comics.
“They are very excited to break down walls and be a part of the parade,” she said.

Stagliano said the Dragons will be the first special needs group to ever march in a Mummers Parade.
Santino Stagliano, who has autism, started the charity in April 2015, at the age of 10, to help others who face the same challenges he does. Through his creativity and acceptance of others, he found his dragon. Today, his organization has an art program for autism and special needs children, puts together daytrips for the youngsters and provides support, when needed.

Santino’s Dragons have been getting support from other Mummers clubs. Fralinger String Band, based out of 1903 S. 3rd St., is donating a float that is designed as a castle with a dragon coming out of it. Mike Collins Jr. is another person Stagliano mentioned as being a big support in helping Santino’s Dragons NYA get ready. The group is developing a following, including a Facebook page with 225 followers. PHL17, home of the Mummers Parade, also stopped by earlier this month to do a segment.