Mother Thanks NJ Santa for Showing Her Adult Son With Autism 'True Christmas Spirit'

— -- A Santa for a garden center in New Jersey is getting a lot of love on social media for his show of kindness and the "true Christmas spirit" to a man with autism.

Casey Hackett, 22, was captured on video this past Saturday sitting on Santa's lap and chatting with Mr. Claus about everything from reindeer to dinosaurs to, of course, what he wanted for Christmas.

The young man's mother, Meria Hackett, posted the video with thank-you note to the Santa on Facebook, where it has received over 200,000 views and dozens of positive comments as of today.

"My son Casey is 22, Autistic & a simply Big Fellow lol," Meria Hackett wrote. "Casey was #3 in line to see him. We did not tell the staff nor Santa about Caseys Autism. We just watched in awe the reaction between Casey and him. Thank you for allowing us to witness the true Christmas spirit still. If anyone has any doubts about the $10.00 they are charging. Trust me I would have paid more for this. He is truly an amazing man.. this was priceless."

The touching visit with Santa happened at Dambly's Garden Center in Berlin, New Jersey. The center's owner, Harold Dambly, told ABC News today that they were more than happy to host Casey and that accommodating people with special needs is of utmost importance to the center.

"When you have a person like Casey, being 22 and still believing and full of warmth and excitement, it's inspiring," he said. "And our Santa here is a marvelous man. He can relate to all age groups and does a lot to accommodate kids with special needs that come in."

Employee Janet Richardson told ABC News today the Santa in the video is actually a local man named David Matsinger. However, she said she refuses to call him by his name and addresses him only as Santa.

"He's just a very natural Santa," Richardson said. "It's been so awesome to witness his magic with children all season. He's so welcoming to all kids, especially people with special needs. If anyone needs a personal room, we'll get them a room. If they need more space, we'll make more space. We've had a few people with wheelchairs come in, and he'll move to sit off the stage to sit with them or help parents carry their children up to his lap."

Richardson added that many kids -- and adults, including Casey -- believe Matsinger "is the real Santa" because "he's just that good. and "he's a true inspiration to humanity and embodies the whole message of Christmas."

Matsinger told ABC News today that he treats "all children the same" and that he "accepts and loves all of them."

However, he said Casey's visit was particularly special because it dawned on him that he actually met him before in a yard sale in Pine Hill, New Jersey, where they both live.

Casey had been selling some old items to raise money for a costume to entertain kids at a local hospital, he said.

"I recognized he was a very special kid, and I told his dad to bring him over to see me again when I do my Santa Claus thing this Christmas," Matsinger said. "It was only after our visit together I recognized him and thought, 'Son of a gun, I know this kid!"

Meria Hackett, Casey's mother, did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for additional comment.