Heard at the DQ
September 6, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Stopped at a Dairy Queen from seeing Charie’s neurologist. Charlie stood very close to a woman who was ordering at the window and moved towards us when I called him, and certainly experienced nothing like a Canadian woman, Erica Gosselin, did while recently taking two autistic boys to a DQ. Another reader referred to the (unhappy) reaction of another customer in a letter to the Alliston Herald:
Erica explained that she has a summer job working with these two autistic boys. They are brothers, and the younger one has a more serious form of autism than his sibling; for one thing, he has less physical control.
At least once a week, Erica takes them to the Dairy Queen as a special treat. On this particular occasion, the one she writes about, a man sitting behind them started yelling at her and with frequent use of the “f” word he shouted, “Can’t you control that … kid, I’m trying to eat my … lunch.”
Even when Erica explained about the autism, he continued his abusive language. I was sorry to read that neither a staff person at the Dairy Queen or any other customer offered some kind of support.
Autism creates a serious problem for the one afflicted and the family. They deserve our understanding and probably get it most of the time. This blast from a Dairy Queen customer, we can only hope, is the exception.
I wonder how this man would deal with an autistic child if he was the father? He might learn something. Let’s hope there is enough reaction to this incident that he will feel a certain remorse providing any of the story gets to him.
Understanding first—-it goes a long, long way.
We’ve never faced anymore than a few stares. Nearly everyone has been very understanding.
Often it is I who has the improper attitude. Thinking my daughter should have special privileges. I felt that way briefly at the touch pools at Monterey Aquarium yesterday. where fearful of breakdowns as two had already happened that day, I grew impatient over the kids listening intently to the docents while eagerly touching the sea cucumbers , bat stars, and kelp.
I wanted them to instantly part so that my “AUTISTIC” child could have her turn. As it was all my daughter wanted to do was splash the water with great vigor.
Let’s hope there is enough reaction to this incident that he will feel a certain remorse providing any of the story gets to him.
It would be nice, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
I took my ASD (adult) offspring to the Monterey Bay Aquarium last month. The kid had to accommodate me at times because I wanted to go to places that made the kid very afraid. Actually, we accommodated each other. I strongly encouraged the kid go kind of near the places that were very scary (open elevated places) but didn’t require the kid to stay in those places for more than a few seconds as we moved into areas that I really wanted to see. The kid put up with my desire to see certain things. It’s good to push past some anxiety in order not to become overly sheltered (avoiding all scary things can lead to agoraphobia for those who tend toward panic attacks) so while I shelter my kid from a lot of bad experiences, I do ask for some bravery from time to time.
The docents at the aquarium spotted my obviously special needs kid and made a place for us a couple of times. Monterey Bay Aquarium was very crowded, even though we were there on a Tuesday. After going to the aquarium we went to Burger King and had Big-fish sandwiches. I sat there and thought about how much mercury might be in the fish and how delicious it was.
However, I rarely buy tuna (for the past 5 years or so) because it’s over-fished, something you can learn about at the aquarium.
You give some people too much credit.
We have not experienced much of anything by the general public, either. Mostly it’s just been the school personnel who don’t get it….
She should have complained about the gentlement with pseudo-tourette’s teaching the young ones bad language. (Just kidding?)