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Special needs Girl Scout troop rejects girl, 8, with autism
- Nov 10, 2009 at 11:42 PM
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Was it a misunderstanding? Or some crazy mistake? Magi Klages' parents are wondering just that.
Their daughter with autism had been thriving for 2 years in a Girl Scout "Brownie program", an organization that pledges to "help people at all times" and to be "honest and fair, considerate and caring".
According to an ABC news report, when Magi's Brownie troop grew too large and her parents moved her to a smaller one for children with special needs, they never imagined their 8-year-old would be kicked out for being a "danger".
Magi's mother always accompanied her to the meetings and they thought the first one was going well for a child with autism in a brand new situation. Truthfully, Magi was having a tough time sitting down to do a project and needed to work through an episode of biting herself and running around at the meeting. She displayed many behaviors quite usual for children with autism but after the meeting the parents were called and told Magi could not come back.
The other children in the troop all have physical challenges and the
troop leader alleged the other girls were afraid of her. Magi's parents
are disturbed that their daughter was rejected because of her
disability.
"We don't get it," said Michele Klages, who always accompanies Magi to
the meetings. "She's 30 pounds and we were there. We were told she was
scaring the other girls."
She said they had been up-front with the group leader about Magi, who is mostly nonverbal and relies on sign language to communicate. They were especially upset to learn the leader has a child with special needs.
It's terrible," said Michelle Tompkins, a spokeswoman for the Girl
Scouts of the United States of America, who said she had received a
"courtesy call" from the local council about the incident. "We are very
inclusive and have a national policy against all forms of
discrimination."
Anita Rodrigues, spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast,
did not return several phone calls from ABCNews.com. But Michele Klages
says the council contacted her about the possibility of finding another
troop for Magi to join.
Even the Autism Society of America
admits that the Girl Scouts do "wonderful work" with children with
disabilities and has often contributed volunteers to help children with
this neurological disorder. It says that children with autism are
rarely dangerous to others and that the incident illustrates the need
for more support and training in organizations like the Girl Scouts.
Why did this happen? We will probably never know as the Girl Scout are evoking confidentially and will not share details.
Sadly, this whole incident could demonstrate a lack of autism awareness and basic information about the disorder. Surely in a special needs program, leaders would possess the level of understanding, background and compassion to be able to include children with all special needs or ask for some more help.
If the other girls were scared of Megin's behavior, that would have been the appropriate time to have a teaching moment; discuss autism and common behavioral issues associated with it. Model understanding, empathy and kindness; that is the what the Girl Scouts are all about.
"These children are so misunderstood," said Michele Klages. "We need to educate ourselves that these kids can be loving and fun. They should be given a chance like any other child."
More articles by Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner:
Girl with down's syndrome will make prime time debut in "Glee"
The Black Balloon; young writer/director pulls from her own experience with autism
The high cost of special needs care
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