Between Spectrums

Allowing Them to Places

So I woke up at six this mourning, not by an alarm this time, and I was checking on Facebook and I found this in what's trending.

In a recent production of "The King and I", a kid with autism started to yell. As the mother tried to him the other other theater goers started to murmur "Why would you bring a child like that to the theater". Now disturbing a play by yelling would really be rude. But you have to understand that sometimes kids with autism don't quite know how to control their emotions yet. That's what this Broadway actor understood. Kelvin Moon Loh, who was part of the play when it happened, wrote a post on his Facebook page saying that he sympathizes with the mother and praises her courage for taking her son to the theater. And seeing how the audience being insensitive to the situation, he wanted to them to relax and she's really trying. He knows how expensive getting a Broadway ticket can be but he also knows that life doesn't stop because you're wanting to watch a play. He hopes that his post will bring awareness of parents who have children with special needs and that they and their kids have the same right to enjoy the theater like other people. He's getting his wish now, because his post currently has 9,000 shares, 25,000 likes. It's inspiring a lot of people and may it continue to do so.

It's not just the theater that those with autism can go to. When I was serving as a missionary, the ward I was assigned to had a member whose daughter is a full-grown woman but jumps up and down, claps, and shouts with joy and excitement. The mother sits her down and the meeting still continues. Now the members aren't bothered by this because they know them and they understand that the daughter is special and they don't condemn her for that but they appreciate her and her mother coming to church so they too can feel the spirit. Whether it's the theater, church, restaurant, concert, museum, any place should be welcoming to those with autism. For what ever reason they should feel welcomed and accepted. And who knows they may find they choice of career in any of these places. 

If you want to see what Loh has to say in his post, check out his Facebook page.

Thank you for your time

Tay Gallagher

Between Spectrums

Judge Yourself and Not Others

Have you ever been to the grocery store and one of the customer's was being rude to a young man who is doing the best he can at his job? Well, this shopper can tell you her story.

She went at the store where she usually gets her groceries. When she was done she went to the check out area. The cashier was scanning the items while the bagger, who has downs syndrome, was carefully packing her bags. A woman behind her was becoming annoyed by how slow he was packing. the shopper assured her that she was done paying. Then the woman insulted her by calling her slow like the bagger and said that special people shouldn't interfere with normal people's lives. The bagger jumps to the shopper's defense by point out the college logo on her sweat pants. And sense she has the logo, it means that she goes to college and is very smart. And the shopper tells the woman that the bagger is the best bagger for being careful. 

Once the bagger was done he gives the shopper her groceries, knowing that she walks back to her dorm. But the woman gets even more irritable and demands to see the manager because the bagger doesn't walk with her to put the groceries away. The shopper tells her that she walks and that talking to the manager about it would be pointless. The bagger says "have a nice day" to the shopper and just when you think the woman couldn't get any worse think again. The woman calls him a retard. Now that was the last straw. The cashier calmly turns to the woman, tells her that because of her discrimination towards the bagger and the shopper, The store won't give her any service. He takes her groceries away, and asks her to leave. But the woman starts to cause a disturbance to the point of breaking a shelf, she was then restrained and had to wait till the cops comes. As she was being restrained, the bagger takes the shopper and another customer to safety behind a cigarette counter. the bagger asks the shopper if she still wants to shop here. Her response was yes. Even with all that happen the shopper will continue to shop there and the smile on the bagger's face makes it worth while.  

When I was at high school there was one student that had a mental disability and at first I didn't like seeing him acting like a complete idiot, letting people take advantage of him, and him disturbing class. There was one time when he got mad and was leaving the teacher tells him to come back because he knows the class loves him but I said "I don't" which shocked the teacher and most of that students. But later on I realized that it's his fault. He may have struggles but that doesn't make him an idiot. The real idiot was me for not seeing him as a great person he is. He loves to give his teachers a hug and he can be really friendly to a lot of people. I judged him too harshly when in reality I can only judge myself and nobody else. 

No one can judge people without judging themselves. We all have flaws and weakness that we individually need to focus on more than pointing out another's flaws and weaknesses. Autistic, Down syndrome, whatever the struggle, we need to show them that they are awesome as they are and avoid judging them because we make mistakes a lot more than they do. So I encourage you to avoid judging cause it's not you place to judge and it's not my place to judge.

For the more detailed version on the story go to www.upmoments.com/rude-woman-humiliates-worker-with-downs-syndrome/

Thank you for your time 

Tay Gallagher

Between Spectrums

Standing Up Without Cameras

Hey Readers

So after I finished my part of my homework, I was looking through the Internet hoping to find something to talk about. Then I came across a video that I think you should see. Now this is the first time doing it so hopefully it works

Now let's ask this question. Would you stand up for the autistic boy or stay seated? Would you show courage or stay out of situations hoping they work themselves out? Do you care in reality or when a camera's rolling? If someone was in trouble I would try to help them but if there's nothing I can do, I can leave with the knowledge of knowing that I tried to help. Some people with autism can't really stand up for themselves so it's up to us to help, take courage, and let people know that autism is not a bad thing but a fantastic thing. Readers, we need to stand up for what's right and do so without the need of attention.

Thank you for you time 

Tay Gallagher

Between Spectrums

Maintaining Friendships

When I was a kid, my family and I would move to a new place. Among all the places we moved to, there are couple of places that are near and dear to my heart. One of them being a small community called Oakley, Idaho. We actually moved there a couple of times. And what made it awesome was being with my good friend. Though he was a year younger than me and a grade below me, we had a lot in common. Same interests, and we were alike in many ways. But my family and I moved and my friend and I took different paths. When I visited him a while back, he was really different as he changed a lot and it was kind of hard to connect with him. Our once strong friendship is now just a distance memory and he's doing his own thing. Same thing with most of the people I met on my mission, as well as college, it was like once they see me they don't really want to talk to me like I was some creeper they want to get away from. Granted I may had sometimes act strange, but that doesn't mean I'm really strange. It doesn't bother me as much. If a person doesn't want to be my friend it's his or her choice. It just sometimes hurt to think that because of you leaving a bad impression that people don't want to talk to you.

People with autism, like any other person, want a friend that can be there for them. It's hard enough to think that you're different and that you can't do a whole lot of things, but it's quite hard from them to communicate with people and make connections. What they want is people who could understand them, connect with them, and be at their side. Some do push people away either because they want to be alone or not wanting the pains of being rejected, and some may have a snotty attitude that you don't want to be near. But there are those who feel lonely, which may lead them to depression. Now it is a choice to be happy or miserable, but having a friend or being a friend can help a person's self-esteem. Maintaining a lasting friendship is one the many gifts an autistic person can have. So I would like to extend this challenge to you. Whether the person has a disability or not, be a friend to those who you think looks lonely. Talk to them, get to know them, let them know that they can look to you as a friend, and help them maintain that friendship. That can be the best thing that you can do. Because when times get tough, you got a friend in them.

Thank you for your time 

Tay Gallagher