(26 year old Robert Saylor)
The HORRIBLE things people are saying in the comments...
"Normally they say they want to be treated like everyone else, but in situations like this they want "special treatment""
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
(Ok, so I'm getting a little out of control with the "caps lock" button, but this is just ridiculous.)
I read the story, the face book page, the Sharif's letter, the medical report... and I can't make any sense of it. So he was adament about staying in the theater, he wanted to see the movie again and when he was being forced to leave he started cursing at the police officers. Then while he was handcuffed and being forced out of the theater he died from lack of oxygen. Why? WHY???????
Anybody with a special needs child sees the issues instantly. He wanted to see the movie again. Period.
This is what is going through his head (in my opinion)-
I saw the movie. I liked the movie. I want to see the movie again. It is about
to play again and I am already sitting here. So I'm going to stay and watch the
movie.
It's really that simple. He is not thinking "I want to break the rules, not move from my seat, and screw the movie theater out of $11." I would guess, it's not even possible for him to even understand that idea.
But then people start telling him to leave. That he can't stay there. That he MUST go or he will be forced to leave.
At this point his mind is so confused. He is in complete overload-
I want to watch the movie again. I'm already here. They won't let me. Why
won't they let me? I'm not bothering anybody. Just let me sit here. Why are
they so angry. I'm afraid they are going to hurt me. I just want to watch the
movie. They are talking so loud. There are so many of them. I just want to
watch the movie. I'm already sitting here. I'm not hurting anyone. I want them
to leave me alone. I'm afraid they are going to hurt me.....
And then the part that they don't understand. The part that is different for everybody that has "special needs" but oh so incredibly scary and intense. The break down.
He starts cursing at them. He is yelling and cursing and his body is fighting off what it doesn't understand with its weapon of choice.
But instead of seeing the fear behind it, the police officers handcuff him and begin to drag him out of the theater.
Can you imagine what is happening now-
They are touching me. They are hurting me. I'm scared. I just want to
watch the movie. I'm not bothering anybody. It hurts. Why are they touching
me. I'm so afraid of them. I can't breathe. Just let me watch the movie. Why
are they doing this. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I CAN'T BREATHE
I can hear it, can you? I can FEEL it. I'm Terrified....
If I would have been there I would have tackled those police officers to the ground SO fast THEY wouldn't be able to breathe.
I'm not a violent person. I don't wish terrible things on people. I have this very intense wish and hope that all people are good and all people are heaven bound. So when I read stories like this I'm heart broken. I don't understand. I'm upset that they were police officers. I think that people in that position need to know better. I hate that it looks bad for other police officers. I hate the exact people that that boy was taught would protect him.... killed him.
My heart hurts for those officers. My heart hurts for their families. My heart hurts for Robert's family. My heart hurts for everybody.
And my heart really hurts for my Snugglebug.
Robert Saylor had Down Syndrome. My guess is that he had several different things because most special needs people have more than one diagnosis. However, Down Syndrome you can see. Down Syndrome is something you can immediately recognize on his face. There is no doubt unless you are blind, that he has some special needs. Yet, this is what happened. I don't understand.
Let me tell you what could very easily happen with a twenty-six year old with Aspergers, you know... like Jackson.
He is in a movie theater. He saw a movie he liked. He wants to watch it again. So he sits there to wait for it to start.
Does he think about theater policies? Does he realize he needs to pay again? Does he realize he is breaking the rules? Does he consider the consequences of his actions?
NO! He liked it. He's there. He wants to see it again. PERIOD
Someone will need to logically, without emotion, calmly explain to him the step by step procedure, the reasons why, and the actions required to get to do what he wants.
And if he was treated the way that Robert was. With his heighten senses. With his inability to understand. With his heighten pain sensory. With the yelling, the touching, the pain, the strangers, the confusion, the fear.... He absolutely wouldn't be able to breathe.
And you know what is the scariest part of this entire story to a mother of a boy with Aspergers. Robert Saylor died and he had Down Syndrome. You can SEE Down Syndrome. You can't see Asperger Syndrome. You can't see, or hear, or feel his sensitive heart.
However, they should have been able to see Robert's, and they didn't.
I don't understand? If they couldn't SEE something that is Obvious. What are they going to "see" when it's hidden? What will happen with the other people with special needs that NEED them to "see" whether it's with their eyes or their hearts. What will happen if it was MY Jackson?
I can see it, I can Feel it, my heart breaks with fear ..... I CAN'T BREATHE
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteYou are an advocate not only Jackson, but for all those with special needs who don't have one. Thank you for caring and helping the rest of us understand!