Blake at the mall

[Guest guest]

Since many of you asked, the mall involved was the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach

Gardens.

This is such a Deja vu for me. One year I had issues with the Broward County

Public Schools Bus Dept and ended up becoming a volunteer instructor on autism

for several years. Then we had the problem when Blake couldn't wait in lines and

we started the NARY cards. I guess I really shouldn't be surprised that there

are still so many people in the world that don't " get " it. It still irks me,

though when someone says something about Blake (or any other special needs

person for that matter) in terms of being a " nuisance. "

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

harassment, that was what your son and you suffered. We can have public

attention through publicity or through legal action. If they have to pay they

will surely train the staff.

Sent from my iPad

Omayra Matamoros, MHSA, JD

That happened to me at a Red Lobster in Panama City. My son (six at

the time) had a meltdown in the parking lot as we were parking, kicked

my windshield and broke it. I parked and went around to his side,

pulled him out and held him so he could not hurt himself or me or the

car (I could not restrain him over the center console). The staff

and patrons came out due to the ruckus, and a waitress called the cops

because I was " obviously abusing him " . The cops recognized a takedown

when they saw one, said it was obvious I was doing it correctly and

that I wasn't abusing him, but insisted on having him sent to the

emergency room, because even though I told him he was autistic and

bipolar, and this was a meltdown, and I could handle it, and oh, by

the way I am a doctor and this would pass in minutes if they left us

alone, they felt I couldn't judge that, and he needed to be

committed. I guess they felt they were more expert.

I had no health insurance at the time, and did not want the ambulance

and ER fees when I knew they would not do anything. But the police

told me if I refused they would forcibly take him, so we went--wet

clothes, because while this was going on, they wouldn't let me take

him to the bathroom. The ER doc took one look at a child with a

psychiatric problem, and ran out of the room to call the peds crisis

worker on call, who happened to be his regular therapist. She came

in, saw the storm was over and said take him home. No one examined

him, gave him anything or changed anything. It took hours, and he sat

in wet clothes.

Result--not a danger, so no hospital admission, overstim, traumatized

by the negative attention, kept away from his meds for hours, late

bedtime, no food, wet clothes, and an ER bill in the thousands with no

insurance coverage. Didn't even get an apology.

Which mall?? I had a terrible incident happen 2 years ago at one of

the simon malls. My son didn't want to leave the amusement area,

and I started pulling him away. A security guard threatened to call

the police for child abuse!! They definitely need to be educated

Subject: Fwd: Blake at the mall

To: " Karp " <deniseslist >

Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 12:20 PM

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

Date: December 20, 2010 6:37:21 PM EST

To: Mom and Dad , Rapke

, Hunter Herskowitz

Subject: Blake at the mall

Blake was asked to leave the mall today for being too happy. He

was jumping up and down because he was excited. I wasn't with him-

he was with his caregiver. Blake goes to the mall about 4 times a

week so ever security officer knows him.

He wasn't touching anyone. He wasn't impinging upon anyones

personal space as he was in an area where people were sitting. He

certainly wasn't making too much noise as the mall was full of

people being that it's only a few days until X-M'as. When asked

why he had to leave, the security officer replied that Blake was

jumping.

Too bad I wasn't there. I would have pointed out every typical

young child there who was either crying, whining, laughing,

jumping or making any other sound or body movement.

Unfortunately this was not the first time this has happened. It

will be the last as I plan to call the general manager and do some

education about autism and disabled people in general. I feel like

it's 1995. I remember dealing with this stuff when Blake was

little. But I guess we still have to advocate even though every

other TV show is about autism these days. I put in a call to the

security dept director and am waiting for his call.

------------------------------------