Mother discusses the soul-crushing moment when a stranger insulted her child with autism

Nicole Duggan was all but certain that her two-year-old son had autism. While she was awaiting the official diagnosis, a public event showed her just how harsh others can be.

We’re all different from one another. Because of this simple fact, we should all be able to respect each other’s differences. But the parents of special needs children know that this is sadly not the case.

One mother, Nicole Duggan, has explained how devastating it is to have others treat her son, Riley, like he is something to be ashamed of.

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One of the worst experiences that Nicole and Riley have ever been through happened several Christmases ago. Nicole took Riley to see Santa Claus in a grotto in a mall. The mall had gone all out in setting up their grotto.

Riley was loving seeing the grotto. And when he gets excited, he flaps his hands rapidly, jumps up and down, hums and squeals. Riley cannot speak. But he expresses his happiness in these other ways.

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For a while, Nicole was just enjoying the sight of her son seeing Santa’s grotto. But the more that Riley flapped and squealed, the more that people started staring at him.

Nicole knew that people would stare. She was still getting used to her special needs child, and had to cope with the inevitable reactions of others. But then one particular mother in the grotto made things so much worse.

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“I will never forget that woman. I will never forget the way she looked at my little boy. The way she stared. The look of disgust on her face.” – Nicole Duggan.

Riley sat on a bench in the grotto. Nicole sat next to him, pointing out the decorations all around them. Then another little girl sat next to Riley. The little girl said “hi” to Riley. Riley never usually acknowledged the presence of anyone. But this time, the boy turned to the little girl and smiled at her.

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Then Riley started flapping his hands and making noises at the little girl. It was his way of saying “hi” back to her.

The woman who had been staring at Riley in disgust then walked up to them. She was the little girl’s mother. She instructed the girl to move away from Riley. Instantly, Nicole’s heart sank.

The woman then turned back to Nicole and told her that she should maybe “try those special Santas. You know. For kids like him.”

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Nicole realized then just how small-minded others can be. She knew that the woman would teach her little girl that kids with autism and other conditions are “bad” and that the girl should avoid children like Riley. Riley had done nothing wrong. He had just communicated in a different way. But that was enough for the woman to drag her daughter away from him.

This event took place years ago. Since then, Riley has grown older. But that day at Santa’s grotto is still just as painful for Nicole. In fact, she considers it to be one of her hardest experiences of being a mom.

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Luckily, Riley is in a loving home and has a happy life. But Nicole still has to deal with the stares, the comments and the judgment of others. She has had to grow a thicker skin and had to focus on the important things, like spending quality time with Riley.

If only we lived in a world where Nicole and Riley would not have to worry about the negativity and harsh words of others.

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Source: Love What Matters, My Boy Blue

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