Here at Janey Macey & Associates, we offer several different types of therapy to children with dozens of different physical, mental, and behavioral obstacles to overcome.  This therapy is done in our offices, either in private sessions, group settings, in our gym, or at home.  But what people often forget is why we do this; our goal is to help these children actively and successfully participate in society.  We want them to be able to go to school, to the park, to movies, to parties, and to restaurants.  At some point, we want their progress to move beyond the walls of our offices and out into the world.

Recently a small group of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) patients (and by small group, we mean two children and three therapists) were on a scheduled outing to see a movie and to eat at a favorite fast food restaurant. The patients, both autistic, enjoyed the movie very much, and were thrilled upon entering the restaurant afterwards.  One of the patients was a twelve-year-old boy who has only recently become verbal and has been in therapy for most of his life.  When he received his food, he became so excited that he began to squeal, which is the primary way he expresses happiness and delight.  Before long, however, the owner approached the group and told them that the boy could not behave that way in the restaurant.

The therapist tried to explain the situation, but the owner was adamant.  It’s unclear how much the boy understood about what was said, but it pains us to think that he may have felt any sort of shame or guilt about his behavior. The restaurant, one of the largest chains in the country, ultimately contacted us at Janey Macey to apologize, and to ask for guidance on how to better interact with autistic children.

Generally, children with special situations like vision or hearing impairment or Down’s Syndrome are typically accommodated at restaurants and local businesses.  But what about autism?  Perhaps the difficulty is that autism can “look” so many different ways that employees don’t know it when they see it.  Autism has also only recently become a “talked-about” issue, so many employees may be entirely unfamiliar with the disorder and its various presentations.  What can children, therapists, patients and business owners do ensure that autistic kids have good experiences in local businesses and restaurants?

1) EDUCATE YOURSELF!

We encourage parents, schools, and businesses to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of autism.  Statistics suggest that as many as one in every 110 children is born with some form of autism, making it likely that they will, at some point, come into your place of business!  We’d suggest that during the employee training process, employees are made familiar with common symptoms.  A simple graph like this should be included:

2) PRACTICE TOLERANCE!

Practicing tolerance of people different from ourselves is not only important for businesses, but for parents and other children.  Do not assume that the autistic person you’ve encountered does not understand when she or he is being treated unfairly or unkindly. Autistic children tend to be extremely observant, and deserve the same care and respect as any others.

3) BE PRACTICAL!

Parents and therapists of autistic children are likely extremely familiar with the limitations of their child.  Staying practical about the special needs of the child is essential.  While new environments and challenges are highly encouraged for autistic children, care givers know best what the child is prepared for.  If movies prove too much, start slowly with movies at home.  If the hustle and bustle of restaurants is overwhelming, try small quiet venues first before moving to more active locations.

As always, we believe that education and awareness of these challenges are the best way to enrich the children’s experience in daily life.  We are sorry that this child was placed in such a terrible situation, but happy that the restaurant saw the error of their ways and had a desire to be more accommodating.  Parents, are there any local businesses you’ve visited that accommodate and interact well with your autistic or special needs child?  Tell us about it!