Mika Hirose and her autistic son, Makonnen were on the bus heading to a therapy session when an older adult couple sat near them. At first it seemed that they just wanted to exchange pleasantries, but were taken aback to hear the Makonnen doesn’t talk. Mika explained to them that he is autistic and the conversation took a turn for the worst.
‘You should be in a zoo’ – Bristol mum’s shock over stranger’s insult to her autistic 5-year-old son #spd
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Heartbroken mother pens essay on stranger’s cruelty toward her son.
When Makonnen began to make loud animal noises, the older male began to mock him in a not so pleasant manor. Then, he stated that the boy belongs in a zoo. Miko, upset with what happened on the bus, would like to promote tolerance and acceptance through her writing. She hopes that by sharing this story, a similar incident may be avoided.
Author Quote
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Despite feeling shocked at the treatment they received, Mika says she is telling her story out of love rather than a desire to ‘point the finger’. She said she wanted to raise awareness of the difficulties Autistic people and their families face, in the hope that others will show more understanding.
"Key Takeaways:
1
Parents and children continue to be insulted when the issue is psychological and not bad behavior.
2
Mika Hirose was taking her autistic child to a therapy session when someone insulted her and her son.
3
Mika Hirose’s son has autism with limited speech and sensory processing disorder.
