A Letter That Will Make You Feel Uncomfortable at Best

[Sorter]

A family is in shock and a community has united after an anonymous hate letter was written about a young boy living with severe autism.

Karla Begley told CityNews her son Max, 13, stays with his grandmother in the morning during the summer time. It was at that home in Newcastle where letter was delivered on Friday.

“I was shaking when I was reading it,” Brenda Millson, Max’s grandmother, told CityNews. “It’s awful words. You don’t know why somebody would ever do such a thing.”

The typed, one-page letter refers to the young boy as a “nuisance” and a “wild animal” before suggesting the family move or “euthanize” the child.

Begley says the police have been contacted and should they have grounds, charges will be filed against the letter’s author.
http://www.citynews.ca/2013/08/18/fa...n-with-autism/

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I'm fortunate enough to have kids who are healthy and that's stressful enough. I really can't imagine how difficult it must be to take care of children who have serious, long term health problems whether physical or mental. I have a great deal of respect for the people with the strength to do it.

It's a different kind of stress. With my disabled son, I'm not really worried about him doing drugs, acting dangerously, getting talked into doing stupid shit, lying to me, hanging out with the wrong crowd, etc...

My younger son, on the other hand, is a handful in an entirely different way. He, unfortunately, reminds me (and everyone else who knows him) of my brother when he was young. That brother has been in and out of jail his entire life and an addict of some sort since 8th grade. Those are not worries I have with my disabled son.

[NewChief]

And let me add:

While my disabled son's condition is a source of heartbreak for my wife and I from time to time, if my other son were to go down the wrong path, that could possibly be an even greater source of heartbreak, guilt, etc.. because of the wasted potential.

[fan4ever]

Originally Posted by NewChief

And let me add:

While my disabled son's condition is a source of heartbreak for my wife and I from time to time, if my other son were to go down the wrong path, that could possibly be an even greater source of heartbreak, guilt, etc.. because of the wasted potential.

It's funny how similar a path we all walk. As we were leaving the hospital, and it was obvious he was severly impacted, an older lady who was with us in the elevator reached over and stroked his head as my wife held him, smiled and said "He'll never disappoint you". Initially we thought that was weird but now get what she was saying. She must have walked the same mile at one time.

[Mr. Plow]

And my wife wonders why I hate people.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by patteeu

That's all I meant by asking what "louder" meant. If it's just a kid out in the back yard in the afternoon swinging on a swing set while singing off-key at the top of his lungs, it seems like something the neighbors ought to be able to deal with. If it's banging on the side of a tin shed with a hammer at 6 am, the parents should probably take the hammer away or keep the kid inside for a couple more hours.

they said it was "wailing".


to me that means he is expressing himself in his own way. probably sounds like he is yelling at a higher volume.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

they said it was "wailing".


to me that means he is expressing himself in his own way. probably sounds like he is yelling at a higher volume.

That's entirely different than my definition of whaling. When I whale I get a bottle of scotch, go to the club and won't talk to any woman whose ankles are thinner than my torso.

That's ****ing whaling--done right.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Once again....not in the same aspect of what you're going through....but my 6 year old daughter has to get 24 hour EEGs 3 or 4 times a year to measure her brain activity. So for 24 hours...she has to wear electrodes on her head...and her head is then wrapped up so she doesn't mess with them. All of the electrodes are attached to wires that run down to a backpack that she has to wear. Everytime that my daughter gets one done....my wife takes her out for lunch and to pick out a small toy.

My wife called me crying one time because they were out eating lunch and some lady walked by the table they were sitting at and said under her breath "she shouldn't even be here.....keep her at home next time". ****ing **** is lucky I wasn't there because I would have snapped.

I think in another thread on here I posted the story of when people's stupidity got the best of me while we were on a trip to WDW. I absolutely embarassed the guy in line who made a reference to my son right in front of his family (wife and 2 kids). After it happened I was feeling real good about what I had done when I caught up to my wife and kids. My son....my Special Needs son mind you....looked at me and said "Dad, why did you do that? It's not his fault he doesn't understand. How are you going to make him understand better when all you did was yell at him"

Talk about a reality check....my wife looked at me and smiled....and all I could think to do was find the guy to apologize. My son and I purposely stood at the Exit to the ride so we could meet him and I could apologize to him and his family. When he approached he was a bit sheepish but my son stuck his big paw out and introduced himself...for that moment I felt like the Child and he was the Parent.

Your children teach you so much....

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

I think in another thread on here I posted the story of when people's stupidity got the best of me while we were on a trip to WDW. I absolutely embarassed the guy in line who made a reference to my son right in front of his family (wife and 2 kids). After it happened I was feeling real good about what I had done when I caught up to my wife and kids. My son....my Special Needs son mind you....looked at me and said "Dad, why did you do that? It's not his fault he doesn't understand. How are you going to make him understand better when all you did was yell at him"

Talk about a reality check....my wife looked at me and smiled....and all I could think to do was find the guy to apologize. My son and I purposely stood at the Exit to the ride so we could meet him and I could apologize to him and his family. When he approached he was a bit sheepish but my son stuck his big paw out and introduced himself...for that moment I felt like the Child and he was the Parent.

Your children teach you so much....

Powerful. That's the only word I can use to describe this post. Those kids are absolutely perfect in their own ways...

[fan4ever]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

I think in another thread on here I posted the story of when people's stupidity got the best of me while we were on a trip to WDW. I absolutely embarassed the guy in line who made a reference to my son right in front of his family (wife and 2 kids). After it happened I was feeling real good about what I had done when I caught up to my wife and kids. My son....my Special Needs son mind you....looked at me and said "Dad, why did you do that? It's not his fault he doesn't understand. How are you going to make him understand better when all you did was yell at him"

Talk about a reality check....my wife looked at me and smiled....and all I could think to do was find the guy to apologize. My son and I purposely stood at the Exit to the ride so we could meet him and I could apologize to him and his family. When he approached he was a bit sheepish but my son stuck his big paw out and introduced himself...for that moment I felt like the Child and he was the Parent.



Your children teach you so much....

Your son sounds well equipped for the world, and you, your wife, and family deserve an immense amount of the credit for that. Congratulations.

[InChiefsHeaven]

I was at the food court at a mall with my wife about a year ago. There was a group of special needs kids in wheelchairs. I mean, severe. The people taking care of them came into the food court probably for lunch, and I was absolutely astounded at how well they were with these kids. I can't think of any other way to put it except vegetative. Looking around, not seeing anything, just pitiful. But the people with them talked amongst themselves and to the special needs kids like there was nothing wrong.

I guess for them there wasn't. I actually teared up a little at the whole thing. It was beautiful and terrible all at the same time. I have 2 healthy "normal" kids who give me enough grief. My hat's off to those who care for these people. It takes a special person to do that, and I ain't one of them.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

It takes a special person to do that, and I ain't one of them.

you'd be surprised at what you can do when dealt a hand like this.
sec

[fan4ever]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

I was at the food court at a mall with my wife about a year ago. There was a group of special needs kids in wheelchairs. I mean, severe. The people taking care of them came into the food court probably for lunch, and I was absolutely astounded at how well they were with these kids. I can't think of any other way to put it except vegetative. Looking around, not seeing anything, just pitiful. But the people with them talked amongst themselves and to the special needs kids like there was nothing wrong.

I guess for them there wasn't. I actually teared up a little at the whole thing. It was beautiful and terrible all at the same time. I have 2 healthy "normal" kids who give me enough grief. My hat's off to those who care for these people. It takes a special person to do that, and I ain't one of them.

My son appears that way in public. I don't know if it's because there's so much stimuli, he's uncomfortable, or what, but I'm sure to onlookers he looks totally dysfunctional. At home, although he can't talk, he communicates and even uses a computer device to play learning games, etc. so many times some of these kids are just withdrawn or taking in what's around them. That's may be why the people tending them were trying to interact as much as they were.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

I think in another thread on here I posted the story of when people's stupidity got the best of me while we were on a trip to WDW. I absolutely embarassed the guy in line who made a reference to my son right in front of his family (wife and 2 kids). After it happened I was feeling real good about what I had done when I caught up to my wife and kids. My son....my Special Needs son mind you....looked at me and said "Dad, why did you do that? It's not his fault he doesn't understand. How are you going to make him understand better when all you did was yell at him"

Talk about a reality check....my wife looked at me and smiled....and all I could think to do was find the guy to apologize. My son and I purposely stood at the Exit to the ride so we could meet him and I could apologize to him and his family. When he approached he was a bit sheepish but my son stuck his big paw out and introduced himself...for that moment I felt like the Child and he was the Parent.

Your children teach you so much....

So...serious question. My daughter is 6 years old and (like a lot of youngsters) says/asks whatever is on her mind most of the time. Sometimes when we cross paths with a family with a special needs child she'll ask something along the lines of, "Daddy, what's wrong with him." I'm usually not sure what to say, but will say something like, "Nothing is wrong with him. He's just a little bit different from you." Given your experiences, what do you think would be a good response?

[fan4ever]

Originally Posted by kepp

So...serious question. My daughter is 6 years old and (like a lot of youngsters) says/asks whatever is on her mind most of the time. Sometimes when we cross paths with a family with a special needs child she'll ask something along the lines of, "Daddy, what's wrong with him." I'm usually not sure what to say, but will say something like, "Nothing is wrong with him. He's just a little bit different from you." Given your experiences, what do you think would be a good response?

Actually my wife is a teacher (2nd grade) and we take Lucas to the school carnivals. She explains to those who ask exactly what is "wrong" with Lucas in terms their little minds can absorb. IMO if you are familiar with what they're dealing with, explain it best you can and maybe add "...and his/her family love him/her just as much as I love you".

[ThatRaceCardGuy]

"Sounds reasonable"-DC posters.