Discrimination of People with Special Needs

[Anonymous]

This story on ABC News highlights how people with Special Needs are discriminated against in our society: https://gma.yahoo.com/woman-claims-she-daughter-autism-were-kicked-off-151716493--abc-news-topstories.html. I currently been reflecting on the extra burden people with Special Needs carry through life because of issues at school with my daughter.

Whether it is in a private activity or even in a public school, how have your children been discriminated against and what did you do about it?

[Anonymous]

The flight attendant and pilot in the article sound like idiots. Glad to hear that the family is suing United. Hopefully it'll result in more training and awareness.

[Anonymous]

OMG other passengers should sue for their travel plans being derailed over literally nothing. This is too much.

[Anonymous]

OK, this whole entire thing is ridiculous. However, not everyone is going to have training with people with autism. It simply isn't going to happen.

They don't explain why the attendant said no to the hot meal. That confuses me. Why the hell not? Someone asked for it and was paying for it.

The rest of it is beyond ridiculous. United should be embarrassed by their staff. There was NO problem. I'm glad the family is suing. If they're going to remove someone whose child is behaving, then why aren't those with screaming/misbehaving kids removed? Or passengers who are too loud, etc?

Absolute stupidity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, this whole entire thing is ridiculous. However, not everyone is going to have training with people with autism. It simply isn't going to happen.

They don't explain why the attendant said no to the hot meal. That confuses me. Why the hell not? Someone asked for it and was paying for it.

The rest of it is beyond ridiculous. United should be embarrassed by their staff. There was NO problem. I'm glad the family is suing. If they're going to remove someone whose child is behaving, then why aren't those with screaming/misbehaving kids removed? Or passengers who are too loud, etc?

Absolute stupidity.

My sil works for United and they have extensive training for their flight attendants including "how to hold tongs" when serving people in first class as well as important safety stuff. United should be embarrassed and have better training for flight attendants including how to deal with the public including people with special needs.

That flight attendant needs several more weeks of remedial training.

[Anonymous]

I think if someone threatens the flight attendant that their child might become violent if she doesn't get hot food, that's not something the flight attendant can just ignore, even if the child does have special needs.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has witnessed special education students at school being treated in a similar fashion. One girl in particular is on the autism spectrum. She has certain ticks that increase as her anxiety goes up. This is the order of behavior - humming, then singing, then rocking back and forth, then full out tantrum on the floor if someone tries to physically touch her. The point is, there is a pattern of behavior that with intervention, the meltdowns can be avoided. Unfortunately, even staff who work with special needs children don't understand. This girl is subjected repeatedly to being forcibly removed by school security which disrupts her education as well as the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if someone threatens the flight attendant that their child might become violent if she doesn't get hot food, that's not something the flight attendant can just ignore, even if the child does have special needs.

Both the emergency landing and suing are over-reactions, but the family are not without fault. After 15 years, and for the supposed amount of extensive traveling they have done, the family should have been better prepared for their child, and did not need to escalate things with the flight attendant. This doesn't sound like discrimination, so much as everyone being rather moronic about the situation.

[Anonymous]

Wow... Blame the parents. That's really the kind of reaction that drives me nuts. I hope you are always prepared for any possible situation for your child. No? Welcome to reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if someone threatens the flight attendant that their child might become violent if she doesn't get hot food, that's not something the flight attendant can just ignore, even if the child does have special needs.

I didn't read it as a "threat", just a factual statement of something that might happen. Since the flight attendant was blowing off the mother's requests to purchase hot food, she probably wanted to emphasize the importance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow... Blame the parents. That's really the kind of reaction that drives me nuts. I hope you are always prepared for any possible situation for your child. No? Welcome to reality.

Except that this was no "any possible situation. The girl only eats warm food. The family alleges that they have been traveling since their daughter was under 1 years old. The parents, in this specific case, should absolutely be blamed for not being responsible for their child in their regular, predictable needs.

[Anonymous]

My mother and I were in a store last week and a father (I think?) was there with his adult daughter. They were standing behind us waiting to buy shoes and my phone rang - she started screaming and banging her head on the table.

I felt horrible and the father just held her for a minute or so and then she was fine. The owner of the store totally freaked out told them they had to leave. Had I not already paid for my shoes, I would not have bought from that asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if someone threatens the flight attendant that their child might become violent if she doesn't get hot food, that's not something the flight attendant can just ignore, even if the child does have special needs.

+1, as a mom of a special needs kid I agree. Mom should have fed the kid before getting on the plane or brought her own food. There is a lot more to the story that isn't being shared, especially by mom. Mom is looking for a fight. Most airlines do not provide food or hot food on shorter flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow... Blame the parents. That's really the kind of reaction that drives me nuts. I hope you are always prepared for any possible situation for your child. No? Welcome to reality.

Except that this was no "any possible situation. The girl only eats warm food. The family alleges that they have been traveling since their daughter was under 1 years old. The parents, in this specific case, should absolutely be blamed for not being responsible for their child in their regular, predictable needs.

+1, you know your child's eating habits. She could have gone early to the airport and eaten there or brought food in a thermos.

[Anonymous]

The girl refused to eat earlier. Yes, mom likely could/should have been more prepared. Would they let her take food in a thermos on the plane? I don't think so.

At any rate, an emergency landing and removing them from the plane was blowing things way out of proportion.