Horror at the Met!(Discrimination Against A Child With Autism At N.Y.C.Museum).

[1411]

June 28, 2008 my family visited the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. In less than 30 minutes my 2 and a half year old son began to say the word "ball" over and over again. My son loves sports and I think some type of round shape caught his attention. A security officer told us that we had to leave. He said that my child did "not know how to behave". I took the opportunity to explain that my child was displaying characteristics of his condition which is autism. He still told us to leave. With disdain and malice in his voice I decided to make a written complaint an employee signed my complaint . This was the rudest display of authority. Now get this my son was wearing a harness, he was accompanied by 2 adults,he did not melt down, he did tantrum. A local news program covered my sons' story.To see this program go to ny1.com type autism in search. You will see woman says son was discriminated against. The museum said that they would apologize. However I did not get an apology instead I received a written "spanking". The museum said that they had to protect the art and the public. My chid was harnessed and had two parents with him. What were the museum protecting the art and the public from "Jack the Ripper". Thanking you for your support in advance. Please respond.

[lizardmom]

What a horrible experience! I feel for you. This world can be so mean to our special little ones. I applaud you for your written complaint. Unfortunately that is what we often need to do for our children - make some noise. I think it is cool though that there was a news story calling attention to your situation. The more noise we make, the more the world has to pay attention. By the way, I don't forsee myself going to New York at any point but if I ever do get there I will make a point of "boycotting" the Met. I don't know how much that helps, but knowing someone is on your side can be comforting. Liz

[1411]

thank you so much. if you goggle "horror at the met" and clicked on the first story you would see first hand how insensitive people can be. i posted the same post and this woman was quick to tell me how i was in the wrong. thank you for responding. i  am telling this story out of solidarity to all moms.

[saltycoqui]

Hello there! I wish I had heard of this before I went earlier this summer. I'll not be visiting the Met again. Shame on them.

 

[1411]

Well, I am just happy that you had a good visit to the museum. However, I do thank you for the sentiment :) I also thaaank you for your support. The supporting words of cafemoms has been very theraputic. I was just shocked at the umitigated gall of that place. What gets to me is that not only did they wrong my child, but they lied to the media, the viewers and supporters of the Met by saying that a formal apology would be given. How outrageously, deceitful, manipulating, and dishonest can an organization be. That is just unacceptable.

 

 

[Yankeefandi]

<My oldest son has asperger's he went with his class to the met no problems,

  It might be that your child was too young not the autism issue...  They want the chidren to be quiet during their visit  and any 2 year old can not behaive it isn't a child's mueseumn...

I went a long time ago and foud it ok but too dam snippy... I wonder if that was an older child or an adult with autism would they have asked you to leave? I would have asked to see the director right on the spot...  What they might have told you is the child is making too much noise and that is the issue... not that he's autistc.

[1411]

Yankeefandi, your opinion is valued. However, the only noise made was the obnoxious, rudeness of the security officer. My child was not screaming at the top of his voice and I thought when I joined this group I was sharing out of solidarity to other moms not trying to debate if some bigot was right or wrong inthe way he addressed my family. I am an artist and an educator. I have frequented this museum for over thirty years. I have taken students, from out of town friends and family and native New Yorkers that have never been to a museum before to the Met. I have always supported the Met. I know staff there. Unfortunately, they were in no position to diffuse the situation. That was up to me. Maybe Iwas not clear in my post but I did say that it was a contained situation. My son was not saying anything at the time of incident as he was watching what was taking place among adults. I was explaining to the security officer why my son was perseverating. This did not take place at a movie theatre, the opera, the ballet or a recital. This did not take place in a library or funeral. This was a public museum where I have always respected the rights of others to observe, learn and appreciate the art galleries. There will always be chatter in that museum. Attention was drawn to my son because of his walking and pulling our hands. There was a woman with a child in a stroller. the child was crying. The woman exchanged phone numbers with me and came to my defense. She was not asked to leave and her husband wrote a written complaint on my child's behalf. I did not post the obvious about this particular security officer but this was a case of discrimination on a whole other level. It was noted verbally by quite a bit of spectators in that gallery. Even some staff recognized the hypocrisy. Autism or not the Met has an obligation to its patrons and the manner in which they are treated by staff. Okay, would it make things better if the fact is that my son was too young? Is the word discrimination used in haste on my behalf. I think not because I explained the already controlled situation and the security acted like it was no freaks allowed day. I have nothing to gain from cafe moms by sharing anything but the truth and facts. I only posted this out of solidariy to other moms. If the Met did not take responsibility on camera, they would have been politically incorrect. The fact that a spokeswoman for the Met told the news media, the viewers, artists, art lovers and Met supporters everywhere that a formal apology would be issued was an admission of mishap. The Met lied. If they lied to millions of news watchers, what makes you think that my childs rights were not violated. I would have been alright with the apology. I cannot tolerate the lie. It is like being violated all over again. Not because of autism? Not necessarily discrimination? Heres the question, where was the " Babies or small children that are too young to appreciate art will not be allowed in the N.Y.C.Metropolitan Museum of Art " sign posted? I exercised common sense, respect for the galleries and others by harnessing my son, his dad was at work during thetaping of the news but he was at the museum. There was an adequate attempt to avoid any public humiliation. This was not right. All the officer had to do was address me as I addressed him - like a human being. He did not have to rant or rave. It is hard to imagine. It hurts referring back to it. Horrible! Thank you for responding to my post.