Girl Scouts Reject Girl With Autism

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Girl Scouts Reject Girl With Autism

Special-Needs Troop Claims 8-Year-Old Was a 'Danger' to Others

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES, ABC News. http://is.gd/91N1

For two years, Magi Klages, despite having autism, thrived in

the Girl Scouts -- an organization that pledges to " help people at all

times " and to be " honest and fair, considerate and caring. "

But when Magi's Brownie troop grew too large and her parents

moved her to a smaller one for children with special needs, they never

imagined their 8-year-old would be kicked out.

Michele and Klages of Oconomowoc, Wis., were told their

daughter was a " danger " to the new group's four other children who are

all physically disabled.

" We don't get it, " said Michele Klages, who always accompanies

Magi to Brownie meetings. " She's 30 pounds and we were there. We were

told she was scaring the other girls. "

When the troop sat down for a mat-weaving project, Magi threw a

fit, Michele Klages said, biting herself and running out of the circle.

Having an 'Autistic Moment' " She was having moments as most

autistic children do, " the 42-year-old mother told ABCNews.com. " We

pulled her out of the circle and let her have her moment. At one point

she got up and ran away and her father got her. "

Michele Klages said they felt the Nov. 13 meeting had gone

" fairly well " for an autistic child thrust into a new situation. But

four days later she got the call that Magi would not be welcome in the

new troop.

" To feel like someone doesn't want your child around, it rips

your heart out, " said Michele Klages, who is also raising a

10-year-old son and holds a part-time office job. " I never expected my

child to be discriminated against. Never in a million years. "

She said they had been up-front with the group leader about

Magi, who is mostly nonverbal and relies on sign language to

communicate. They were especially upset to learn the leader has a

child with special needs.

" It's terrible, " said Tompkins, a spokeswoman for the

Girl Scouts of the United States of America, who said she had received

a " courtesy call " from the local council about the incident. " We are

very inclusive and have a national policy against all forms of

discrimination. "

Anita Rodrigues, spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin

Southeast, did not return several phone calls from ABCNews.com. But

Michele Klages says the council contacted her about the possibility of

finding another troop for Magi to join.

Even the Autism Society of America admits that the Girl Scouts

do " wonderful work " with children with disabilities and has often

contributed volunteers to help children with this neurological disorder.

It says that children with autism are rarely dangerous to others

and that the incident illustrates the need for more support and

training in organizations like the Girl Scouts.

" These children are so misunderstood, " said Michele Klages. " We

need to educate ourselves that these kids can be loving and fun. They

should be given a chance like any other child. "

Confrontations Sometimes Happen But while social confrontations

like the ones experienced by the Klageses are not common, they happen.

Earlier this year, 13-year-old Adam Race, who is also autistic,

was banished from his Minnesota Catholic church. His priest issued a

restraining order, saying the teen -- who was 6 feet tall and weighed

more than 225 pounds -- hit a child, nearly knocked over an elderly

parishioner and spit and urinated in the church.

" My son is not dangerous, " Carol Race told The Associated Press.

" The church's action is a certain community's fears of him. Fears of

danger versus actual danger. "

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