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An Autistic Child has a hard enough time in social situations, but add a rude person into the mix and it can be disaster. While taking my child Pizza Hut for a special event, my son (who is 9 yrs old and has Mild Autism) wondered over to the game area. I knew where he was and his older cousin was with him. My nephew came running over saying that a lady had slapped my son on the arm. I went to talk to her and she said my son was playing with the handle on the game and she "pushed his arm out of the way". I gave her a card I had that said " I'm sorry my child bothered you. He has Autism. If you would like to learn more go to Autism.org." This woman followed me (and the four kids I had with me) to my car and started yelling at me. "I am going to be an Rn and I know all about Autism. You shouldn't assume that I don't understand before you give me a card like this. This is just a guilt trip card." I told her that I figured she didn't understand because she hit my child. She said that if I couldn't control him then I shouldn't bring him out in public. This scared the children with me. They said they thought the lady was going to hurt me.

All because my kid tried to help another child to win the game. He doesn't know how to explain this, or how to ask, so he just jumps in.
It has taken me four months of going out to this place to get him comfortable enough not to have a melt down. (they come from to much stimulation). And this woman undid all of that in less than five minutes. It is so hard to help our kids gain the skills they need without people like this. I hope and pray that this "RN" never gets a child with Autism or any other disability. This person could scar a child for life at a hospital.
I hope this doesn't make other nurses look bad. There are to many wonderful nurses out there. I have meet many.
I am still taking my son places. Now I have a new idea. My son wears great T-shirts like; I'm Autistic, what is your excuse?, and I have Autism and I'm having a Moment. Deal with it.
Most of the time I hear good things from this. Some say they have never known a child with Autism. Or they would have never guessed my son was Autistic. I know it may seem like labeling to some. I look at it as a tool. If they see the shirt, they are less likely to cause a problem, and they try to talk to him which gives us social opportunities.
I hope any of you out there who have told a mother in the supermarket to spank her child to make them behave remembers this article. They may not be acting up for a cookie they didn't get. They may be Autistic and having a melt down. Be helpful. Be quiet!

Learn more about this author, Brandi Ferster.
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