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Fun park says sorry for treatment of autistic tour group
- Thread starter Geordie
- Start date
Soup
Well-Known Member
What the heck kind of a ham handed half @$$ apology is that?!? They're concerned about social media ruining their reputation & hoping that it doesn't affect their business & bottom line?!? They really do not have a clue. Their discriminatory & bigoted practices harmed & insulted vulnerable children & that is all the company could come up with as an apology?!? How about:
- FIRING the staff members who did nothing when the children were being abused?
- APOLOGIZING publicly specifically for the actions the park & its staff took & failed to take & the humiliation these children endured?
- CHANGING & CLARIFYING park policies regarding visitors with disabilities?
- ENSURING that discounts are given automatically for groups of disadvantaged people?
- INVITING the group to return & ensuring that they get VIP treatment & have the time of their lives?
- REFUNDING any expenses they incurred because of the ill-fated excursion?
They really ought to be disgusted with themselves.
- FIRING the staff members who did nothing when the children were being abused?
- APOLOGIZING publicly specifically for the actions the park & its staff took & failed to take & the humiliation these children endured?
- CHANGING & CLARIFYING park policies regarding visitors with disabilities?
- ENSURING that discounts are given automatically for groups of disadvantaged people?
- INVITING the group to return & ensuring that they get VIP treatment & have the time of their lives?
- REFUNDING any expenses they incurred because of the ill-fated excursion?
They really ought to be disgusted with themselves.
Geordie
Geordie
This news incident shows that much is to be desired for Auties and the autism community in Ireland and some other developed countries.
Indeed, such discrimination and hurling shows the ignorance of autism. Bad business practices indeed - it will hit the bottom line of the water park, given the outrage seen on Facebook.
As a volunteer for mildly autistic teenagers and children, I also feel appalled. Auties do not choose to be Autistic anyway, and this is how society perceives us. We have autism, and yet businesses do not want us to be their clients, let alone part of them as employees. I wonder whether a few more generations of people with autism have to sacrifice their dreams and their potentials, just to live on as human beings like any other human being.
Never mind, perhaps given the thousands of likes and comments on Facebook in this case, it shows that the world could be more accepting of those with autism.
Indeed, such discrimination and hurling shows the ignorance of autism. Bad business practices indeed - it will hit the bottom line of the water park, given the outrage seen on Facebook.
As a volunteer for mildly autistic teenagers and children, I also feel appalled. Auties do not choose to be Autistic anyway, and this is how society perceives us. We have autism, and yet businesses do not want us to be their clients, let alone part of them as employees. I wonder whether a few more generations of people with autism have to sacrifice their dreams and their potentials, just to live on as human beings like any other human being.
Never mind, perhaps given the thousands of likes and comments on Facebook in this case, it shows that the world could be more accepting of those with autism.
I will be contrary on this one just to give the whole thing a different perspective:
I am a person that refrains from jumping on the bandwagon and as such I always know there are two sides to every story, the simple fact remains that while we hear about all the horror stories that happen to people on the spectrum we are also reminded through the efforts of people like Geordie, that there are individuals out there championing the spectrum and gathering positive awareness.
Having said that, did anybody stop to consider that as a business they are in business to make money and the bottom line is that they can't help anybody if they have to close down. She may not have realised the impact of her words in a situation where more than just her mates can see she is unhappy with someone, she could (potentially) have easily devastated those peoples incomes, lives and futures due to a lack of awareness of the affect that saying something rash on the internet, which may well go viral and cause damage that could last forever, can have...
So now, what if the park had every intention of implementing special consideration for spectrum bound individuals and simply hadn't yet done so, what if they had had an influx of new staff and they just hadn't yet received training for said special considerations, what if they?d had a bad element slip around the vetting process and those particular staff members were stoned or drunk at the time.
Perhaps the children?s assistant was having a bad day and wasn't relaying the information in full or, succinctly enough.
How do we know, I mean what if she was feeling overwhelmed and belligerent at what she described to herself as just another "stupid, moronical idiot" dismissing Aspies as meaningless or worthless, and she chose to take that out on someone who was clueless, it could also be that she isn't an Aspie herself and she actually blew everything that happened way out of proportion to get herself some attention?
All I am saying and woe betide me for doing so, is that there are far more variables not discussed than there are that we see in this one article, and as we are so critical of Aspergers getting negative portrayals in the media so we should be careful to understand that we therefore should also show that same consideration to portrayals of Aspergers that appear to be in a positive light.
Surely we don?t expect that if the media claim some nutter is an Aspie and therefore all Aspies need to be feared, that they are then going to turn around and give an entirely accurate and unbiased account of something bad happening to an individual or group on the spectrum. No, they sell papers by sensationalism; whatever tugs at the heartstrings of inflames the passions.
It could all be double talk in that the media is saying something negative, positively IE; those Autism elitists are at it again with their "we can't function in society rhetoric, we need everyone to treat us better and with special privileges?? (I?m not saying this is the case here but, it has been known to happen)
As example, I can get you to lynch an old lady who lost her cat or alternatively, give money out of your own pocket to a self confessed Satanist entirely depending on how I word the line I feed you, because lets face it, there are people out there that can get exactly what they want by using there brain and mouth in perfect harmony and most of them work in the media.
Some people feel the need to make everything into a crusade, perhaps the park was in the wrong but does that mean we pull down everyone that isn't aware of the spectrum, hasn't the money to change things to accommodate or isn't fast enough at doing so for our liking, now while I am not saying the story isn't true or that it isn't downright deplorable, I am saying that if you?re condemning the media for portraying Aspies as evil how can you applaud them for portraying Aspies simply as defenceless victims.
I am a person that refrains from jumping on the bandwagon and as such I always know there are two sides to every story, the simple fact remains that while we hear about all the horror stories that happen to people on the spectrum we are also reminded through the efforts of people like Geordie, that there are individuals out there championing the spectrum and gathering positive awareness.
Having said that, did anybody stop to consider that as a business they are in business to make money and the bottom line is that they can't help anybody if they have to close down. She may not have realised the impact of her words in a situation where more than just her mates can see she is unhappy with someone, she could (potentially) have easily devastated those peoples incomes, lives and futures due to a lack of awareness of the affect that saying something rash on the internet, which may well go viral and cause damage that could last forever, can have...
So now, what if the park had every intention of implementing special consideration for spectrum bound individuals and simply hadn't yet done so, what if they had had an influx of new staff and they just hadn't yet received training for said special considerations, what if they?d had a bad element slip around the vetting process and those particular staff members were stoned or drunk at the time.
Perhaps the children?s assistant was having a bad day and wasn't relaying the information in full or, succinctly enough.
How do we know, I mean what if she was feeling overwhelmed and belligerent at what she described to herself as just another "stupid, moronical idiot" dismissing Aspies as meaningless or worthless, and she chose to take that out on someone who was clueless, it could also be that she isn't an Aspie herself and she actually blew everything that happened way out of proportion to get herself some attention?
All I am saying and woe betide me for doing so, is that there are far more variables not discussed than there are that we see in this one article, and as we are so critical of Aspergers getting negative portrayals in the media so we should be careful to understand that we therefore should also show that same consideration to portrayals of Aspergers that appear to be in a positive light.
Surely we don?t expect that if the media claim some nutter is an Aspie and therefore all Aspies need to be feared, that they are then going to turn around and give an entirely accurate and unbiased account of something bad happening to an individual or group on the spectrum. No, they sell papers by sensationalism; whatever tugs at the heartstrings of inflames the passions.
It could all be double talk in that the media is saying something negative, positively IE; those Autism elitists are at it again with their "we can't function in society rhetoric, we need everyone to treat us better and with special privileges?? (I?m not saying this is the case here but, it has been known to happen)
As example, I can get you to lynch an old lady who lost her cat or alternatively, give money out of your own pocket to a self confessed Satanist entirely depending on how I word the line I feed you, because lets face it, there are people out there that can get exactly what they want by using there brain and mouth in perfect harmony and most of them work in the media.
Some people feel the need to make everything into a crusade, perhaps the park was in the wrong but does that mean we pull down everyone that isn't aware of the spectrum, hasn't the money to change things to accommodate or isn't fast enough at doing so for our liking, now while I am not saying the story isn't true or that it isn't downright deplorable, I am saying that if you?re condemning the media for portraying Aspies as evil how can you applaud them for portraying Aspies simply as defenceless victims.
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Geordie
Geordie
I think you said I needed to say, Gomendosi...
I recognise everyone has different views and circumstances. Perhaps the park may genuinely feel helpless with the autism group on that day. Also, perhaps, there are many other places where there could be better systems that deal with guiding people with special needs (including autism) to travel around the parks and businesses smoothly and enjoyably.
However, I post this piece of 'sad' news, because things go two sides. There will always be people who want to promote positive awareness of autism, and our ability, because despite our weaknesses, we on the Spectrum (regardless of functioning levels) are still functioning people. There will be some times when we feel discouraged to think of our potentials, given events that will shake and move us, but we'll keep having hope and trust in each other in the autism community. We'll do our best to work for the good of the autism community, to bring our best as both individuals and as a collective whole together.
I recognise everyone has different views and circumstances. Perhaps the park may genuinely feel helpless with the autism group on that day. Also, perhaps, there are many other places where there could be better systems that deal with guiding people with special needs (including autism) to travel around the parks and businesses smoothly and enjoyably.
However, I post this piece of 'sad' news, because things go two sides. There will always be people who want to promote positive awareness of autism, and our ability, because despite our weaknesses, we on the Spectrum (regardless of functioning levels) are still functioning people. There will be some times when we feel discouraged to think of our potentials, given events that will shake and move us, but we'll keep having hope and trust in each other in the autism community. We'll do our best to work for the good of the autism community, to bring our best as both individuals and as a collective whole together.
smith2267
Well-Known Member
Waiting in line doesn't bother me for some reason, nor do I feel any need for handicapped parking, but autism doesn't manifest the same way in everyone.
I do feel that I can't work successfully around people, so I'm applying for SSI.
I don't think most people would ask for considerations they don't need. I certainly wouldn't. NT's are busybodies and suspect everyone's motives.
I suppose they would rather stand in line with a bunch of kids having meltdowns then see anyone else get ahead of them in line. Weird logic.
I do feel that I can't work successfully around people, so I'm applying for SSI.
I don't think most people would ask for considerations they don't need. I certainly wouldn't. NT's are busybodies and suspect everyone's motives.
I suppose they would rather stand in line with a bunch of kids having meltdowns then see anyone else get ahead of them in line. Weird logic.
Geordie
Geordie
Well, for some kids, meltdowns just come as they don't have self-conscience, given their conditions...
Let them be?
It is too bad that this could not have been avoided. I know that it was like pulling teeth at work to get my ADA (American's with Disabilities Act) to be invoked for my vision issues and accommodations. I think that like Smith2267 said that we don't ask for accommodations if we don't need them. I think the staff and the manager could have acted better is there a lesson here sure there is did everyone react appropriate in the situation probably not. But at least we can learn from it and hope that those kids aren't permanently hurt by the actions of the adults in their lives and the outing that was supposed to be fun.
Alright now, I like the idea of a pleasant debate where all viewpoints are considered in equal measure, it just seems today that so many people are one step short of lynching parties and mob rules.
So the park were in error and so was the carer, but in all of this the children are the ones that suffer in the long run, how does all these shenanigans fit into their grand scheme of things?
Let's face facts here, the woman was herself shameful in garnering attention to a "shameful" incident against people on the spectrum, fair enough she did so but it got out of hand and could have had long running and unforseen repercussions, what if some fanatical, unstable element that isn't even on the spectrum but identifies closely with them, decided to burn the park down or blow it up? Some people do go too far!
By the same token she could also be seen to have done the park a favour as they now can implement necessary changes and everyone can pat them on the back and say well done, but then prices go up to cover the costs incurred and everyone goes about complaining again... so how do we class this? As a win/ win situation?
The park on the other hand were only seen looking at things from the bottom of the pocket in terms of how much money could be saved by issuing an apology, if they let it slide they may have ended up having to close, but there again, maybe they genuinely were sorry with relation to how overlooking a minority in terms of offering such, both favour and benefits befitting, would impact on their business and future.
Obviously the best thing to do would have been to go to the park manager/s and suggest the undertaking of suitable changes, discussion could then be entered into about how it would benefit the park due to good publicity, all the while working in to the talks that to not do so would quite obviously be detrimental to their business, as big companies often need to be made aware of the stink that can be kicked up by even a single individual.
(OH yes, this mob found that last bit out the hard way)
Incidentally, I would just like to point out that while I am showing the counterargument here, I do actually feel sorry for the children, not because they couldn’t get special attention or that they may well have been confused as the grownups around them were oblivious of how the children where being affected by the whole debacle, I am most sorry for them having to endure the ravening of some irate, elitist bigot who, figuring that someone was going to get something for nothing, decide that he should take it upon himself to teach those unruly children his own warped and rancid idea of what fair play is.
You have to hope that at the very least, he gets to understand at some point the full concept of karmic justice huh ; ]
So the park were in error and so was the carer, but in all of this the children are the ones that suffer in the long run, how does all these shenanigans fit into their grand scheme of things?
Let's face facts here, the woman was herself shameful in garnering attention to a "shameful" incident against people on the spectrum, fair enough she did so but it got out of hand and could have had long running and unforseen repercussions, what if some fanatical, unstable element that isn't even on the spectrum but identifies closely with them, decided to burn the park down or blow it up? Some people do go too far!
By the same token she could also be seen to have done the park a favour as they now can implement necessary changes and everyone can pat them on the back and say well done, but then prices go up to cover the costs incurred and everyone goes about complaining again... so how do we class this? As a win/ win situation?
The park on the other hand were only seen looking at things from the bottom of the pocket in terms of how much money could be saved by issuing an apology, if they let it slide they may have ended up having to close, but there again, maybe they genuinely were sorry with relation to how overlooking a minority in terms of offering such, both favour and benefits befitting, would impact on their business and future.
Obviously the best thing to do would have been to go to the park manager/s and suggest the undertaking of suitable changes, discussion could then be entered into about how it would benefit the park due to good publicity, all the while working in to the talks that to not do so would quite obviously be detrimental to their business, as big companies often need to be made aware of the stink that can be kicked up by even a single individual.
(OH yes, this mob found that last bit out the hard way)
Incidentally, I would just like to point out that while I am showing the counterargument here, I do actually feel sorry for the children, not because they couldn’t get special attention or that they may well have been confused as the grownups around them were oblivious of how the children where being affected by the whole debacle, I am most sorry for them having to endure the ravening of some irate, elitist bigot who, figuring that someone was going to get something for nothing, decide that he should take it upon himself to teach those unruly children his own warped and rancid idea of what fair play is.
You have to hope that at the very least, he gets to understand at some point the full concept of karmic justice huh ; ]
rolo
Well-Known Member
Well this is getting out of hand here-the article was a brief one- how much more research into this article has been done?? the rantings and opinions of a few imaginative aspies makes for interesting reading. There appears to be a common thread in these discussions- Everyone has different writing styles- some are a little too emotional and others have fevered imaginations-it would be far easier if those that wish to be either super sleuths or feel they may hold the moral/intellectual ground make sure all facts are water tight-valid points have been made but then evaporated by amateur rhetoric and sheer supposition- the best solution is to keep it simple.
The regulations need to be tightened- the relevant groups need to have communicated with the park prior to arrival thus ensuring smooth entrance into said event- I see no reason why those on the spectrum should get automatic discount. lastly it is not just a fun/theme park it is a business and as such needs to make a profit- bad press ruins business fast!! social media can make or break a struggling business in a blink of an eye. Finally ,what little knowledge of ASD is clearly not being publicised enough. If we wish to exact change for our communities it is up to all of us to change this and get the message out loud and clear- Mistakes are made on both sides-we know that don't we fellow Aspergens? - After all we make them too!:balanced:
The regulations need to be tightened- the relevant groups need to have communicated with the park prior to arrival thus ensuring smooth entrance into said event- I see no reason why those on the spectrum should get automatic discount. lastly it is not just a fun/theme park it is a business and as such needs to make a profit- bad press ruins business fast!! social media can make or break a struggling business in a blink of an eye. Finally ,what little knowledge of ASD is clearly not being publicised enough. If we wish to exact change for our communities it is up to all of us to change this and get the message out loud and clear- Mistakes are made on both sides-we know that don't we fellow Aspergens? - After all we make them too!:balanced:
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