Headline: Woman leaves her autistic son alone at airport...

FTFA: A 7-year-old British boy has been found alive and well in central Stockholm after having run away from his mum...

That's a FAIL subby. Please free to try again.

NightOwl2255: That's a FAIL subby. Please free to try again.

Actually, FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

Sounds like a mom who doesn't know that you shouldn't leave your children unattended in a busy airport... especially if he is autistic.

/FAIL for NightOwl2255 and the stupid mom
//has autistic sister

nacker: NightOwl2255: That's a FAIL subby. Please free to try again.

Actually, FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

Sounds like a mom who doesn't know that you shouldn't leave your children unattended in a busy airport... especially if he is autistic.

/FAIL for NightOwl2255 and the stupid mom
//has autistic sister

The mum never left the boy alone, the boy ran away. I won't argue about giving your kid a chance to run away, but to say she left him at the airport when in fact she did no is a FAIL.

NightOwl2255: The mum never left the boy alone, the boy ran away. I won't argue about giving your kid a chance to run away, but to say she left him at the airport when in fact she did no is a FAIL.

Did you not read the quote I provided? Maybe reading comprehension isn't your thing, but it pretty much that she went in a store, and then came out to find that he wasn't there. To me, that little separation kind of indicates that she left the boy alone.

How the boy had managed to find his way there will remain a mystery. For all but one

The reporter is obviously a moonlighting movie trailer copy-writer.

There's a difference between a clever headline and one that is completely manufactured.

You fail, subby.

Don't jump all over Mom just yet. It only takes a momentary distraction for a kid to get away, believe me.

/has autistic son

Aw, I wanna argue, too! I didn't read the article and say you're all wrong!

lol

NightOwl2255: nacker: NightOwl2255: That's a FAIL subby. Please free to try again.

Actually, FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

Sounds like a mom who doesn't know that you shouldn't leave your children unattended in a busy airport... especially if he is autistic.

/FAIL for NightOwl2255 and the stupid mom
//has autistic sister

The mum never left the boy alone, the boy ran away. I won't argue about giving your kid a chance to run away, but to say she left him at the airport when in fact she did no is a FAIL.

Wow, double fail.

The headline makes you think that she left the airport completely with the boy still there (headline = fail). She's still not very bright for leaving him alone outside the store, however (mother = fail).

I'll see you a Rainman, and raise you a Valeria Golino (Possibly NSFW). Even Rainman got a little action from her.

From the article

Gender equity hits below the belt for Swedish patients (22 Feb 08)
Heraldists want penis reinstated on military badge (21 Feb 08)
Ikea guilty of 'cultural imperialism': Danes (20 Feb 08)

Why is it, the paper wondered, that Swedish and Norwegian place names are always associated with the shiniest, comfiest furnishings in the Ikea catalogue, while the names of Danish towns are reserved for doormats, rugs and carpets?

This sounds like a very curious incident...

Maybe reading comprehension isn't your thing, but it pretty much that she went in a store, and then came out to find that he wasn't there.

As written in the article. And we all know that every news article is always 100% complete and accurate and includes all relevant detail.

Before we get all Mom-bashing in this thread, please consider that there may have been other circumstances, for example that he was in a stroller/wheelchair and wiggled out (yes, people do put autistic 7-year-olds in strollers), or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected. Or, maybe Mom is a neglectful yutz. Who knows. The point is, you don't know.

/has autistic son
//try it sometime, just for laughs

Authorities are puzzled as to where the youth acquired his initial stake of approximately 100 US dollars.

So, what? a little kid who likes to paint ran away?
Every single time I see autistic, I see artistic first.

Autistic Hiker: Maybe reading comprehension isn't your thing, but it pretty much that she went in a store, and then came out to find that he wasn't there.

As written in the article. And we all know that every news article is always 100% complete and accurate and includes all relevant detail.

Before we get all Mom-bashing in this thread, please consider that there may have been other circumstances, for example that he was in a stroller/wheelchair and wiggled out (yes, people do put autistic 7-year-olds in strollers), or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected. Or, maybe Mom is a neglectful yutz. Who knows. The point is, you don't know.

/has autistic son
//try it sometime, just for laughs

leash?

Just get him one of those dog leashes that automatically gives him more slack. That way if he decides to take off you just follow the string!

Autistic Hiker: As written in the article. And we all know that every news article is always 100% complete and accurate and includes all relevant detail.

Before we get all Mom-bashing in this thread, please consider that there may have been other circumstances, for example that he was in a stroller/wheelchair and wiggled out (yes, people do put autistic 7-year-olds in strollers), or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected. Or, maybe Mom is a neglectful yutz. Who knows. The point is, you don't know.

/has autistic son
//try it sometime, just for laughs

Reading comprehension doesn't include mind reading.

I certainly understand that all it takes is an instant of lost concentration and the child can be gone, but I only have the information as it was written in the article, however misleading that may be. With that being my only source, by the power of the internets I find the mother guilty of negligence. She shall be sentenced to 100 postings of "Ha-Ha" guy.

ironicsky: Just get him one of those dog leashes that automatically gives him more slack. That way if he decides to take off you just follow the string!

Hopefully you won't find him whizzing in the bushes or humping the neighbor's poodle, like one usually finds after following the leash.

I didn't read the article or the comments. I just want to say that having your autistic son get away from you is NOT .

/only happened to me once
//never again

82, 82, 82, 246

FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

I wouldn't be too tough on mum. Mine put me in a harness, with a leash. I have the pics to prove it.

/Yes. I know she wasn't doing it to be safe

leash?

No leash for us. No way. That's too weird and twisted. We are considering a service dog, though.

/only happened to me once
//never again

No doubt. You only ever let that happen once. Ever.

by the power of the internets I find the mother guilty of negligence. She shall be sentenced to 100 postings of "Ha-Ha" guy

Fair. After all, this is Fark. ;-)

Server fall down, go boom. It's not Fark, it's Denial of Service Attack.

FTFA: We have a temporary technical glitch. Some splendid people are doing their best to sort it out and we will be back with you shortly. These things happen - even in Sweden.

Autistic Hiker
leash?

No leash for us. No way. That's too weird and twisted. We are considering a service dog, though.

I should clarify. There was a line coming from the back of the harness that she could hold on to. Also, I wasn't developmentally disabled, I was a squirrely kid who ran off a lot. I was the last of six kids and she was just fed up with chasing them, so hello harness.

/service dogs are way cool. Good luck.

You can read about a 10 year old autistic boy and his older brother and their towering adventure here.

Autistic Hiker: Fair. After all, this is Fark. ;-)

Thanks for catching that part. I'm not really an asshole, I just play one on the internet sometimes.

I not so fondly remember my sister (who is only 18 months older than me) climbing out of her bedroom window. We lived in the middle of no where near a busy highway. So the choices where for her to head to the highway, or get lost in the woods. A cop who happened to be driving by just as he got the call from dispatch spotted her about 15 feet from the highway. She didn't get away after that.

Maybe he wanted to go back to the blue room?

wowzer97pooh: Authorities are puzzled as to where the youth acquired his initial stake of approximately 100 US dollars.

Larry Craig.

/What?

Uncle Karl: Autistic Hiker: Maybe reading comprehension isn't your thing, but it pretty much that she went in a store, and then came out to find that he wasn't there.

As written in the article. And we all know that every news article is always 100% complete and accurate and includes all relevant detail.

Before we get all Mom-bashing in this thread, please consider that there may have been other circumstances, for example that he was in a stroller/wheelchair and wiggled out (yes, people do put autistic 7-year-olds in strollers), or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected. Or, maybe Mom is a neglectful yutz. Who knows. The point is, you don't know.

/has autistic son
//try it sometime, just for laughs

leash?

Finding one that fits is damn hard. Leashes for children are meant for kids under the age of five. I have an autistic son and when we go to the airport one parent gets him, and the other can handle the younger two. He doesn't mean to wander off, his impulse control just isn't quite that good yet.

I'd place good odds that he's usually very good about staying put, but got distracted.

/paranoid mother
//justifiably so
///oh yes, my autistic son is 7, the other two are still in diapers.

Damn you Hoselman, I came in here just for that! ;)

Obligatory for this thread:



Christ, don't some of you armchair critics of subby have anything better to do?

/not subby

Dagny Was A Feminist

This sounds like a very curious incident...

Nice.

NightOwl2255: The mum never left the boy alone, the boy ran away. I won't argue about giving your kid a chance to run away, but to say she left him at the airport when in fact she did no is a FAIL.

FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

I'd say that means she left him alone. But thank you for playing.

Autistic Hiker:
Before we get all Mom-bashing in this thread, please consider that there may have been other circumstances, ... or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected. ... Who knows. The point is, you don't know.


I give all of you parents and caregivers of autistic children so much respect, I know it takes endless patience and devotion. I'm willing to give this mom the benefit of the doubt. A split second of distraction can change everything, and many of you in this thread know that better than anyone else.

I'm choosing to believe it was probably something like this scenario -
or that he is generally obedient to a normal level of trust and did something unexpected.

I have nothing to base this on but instinct. If she's got her 7-year old son living with her (and not institutionalized or given over to social services), and she's traveling with him, it looks like she's actually a very involved mom, which is a 24/7 job with an autistic child. Neglect just doesn't fit into this picture.

By the same power of the Internets that can conjure the Ha Ha guy for any and all occasions, I hereby...

/got nuthin'
//'cept hugs all around, or respectful distance for those who don't like to be touched

skinink: I'll see you a Rainman, and raise you a Valeria Golino (Possibly NSFW). Even Rainman got a little action from her.

So i guess the "possibly" is determined by whether or not you have 'safe search' on. 'Cause here at home, that is DEFINITELY NSFW

Ooh, I absolutely agree with you SpeelChuck. I teach several children who are severely affected by autism (NASA area). Even those not subject to the worst of the disorder tend to be distracted easily.

For example, a child with autism may really love trains. Suppose he saw an opportunity to ride on one immediately or follow someone's suitcase with a train on it? Even with his previously good behavior (and the ability to speak, which not all children with autism have) the child is likely to be more concerned with his area of interest than his safety. Perhaps mom thought he was ready for this level of independence; but he apparently needs more practice.

Remember: social behavior is one of the biggest challenges for children with autism to overcome. Social nuances come easily for most of us, but for children with autism they must be taught, drilled and constantly practiced in the public arena.

I just wanted to remind people that avalanche risk remains high in Björkliden, so watch yourselves if you head to the slopes.

wowzer97pooh: Authorities are puzzled as to where the youth acquired his initial stake of approximately 100 US dollars.

Yeah. Yeah, sold a candy bar.

Are you taking any prescription medications?

Autistic Hiker: leash?

No leash for us. No way. That's too weird and twisted. We are considering a service dog, though.



I have a service dog for seizure response.

Changed my life.

What tasks/assistance would a service dog provide for a child with autism?

/mine licks my face to bring me round
//gets the phone if I need help
///keeps me from flipping out when I regain consciousness
////makes it possible for me to go out in public on my own

Point two-oh-three-four.......Yeah. DON"T BURN BABY!!

496

What tasks/assistance would a service dog provide for a child with autism?

The principal benefits are emotional in nature. Autism dogs basically help keep the child calm and focused, and the development of the child typically improves through interaction with the dog, including social development. There is also a significant safety benefit in that the dog is always present and can prevent, or warn of unsafe behavior.

Gidgie: NightOwl2255: nacker: NightOwl2255: That's a FAIL subby. Please free to try again.

Actually, FTFA: The boy's mum went into a store in Arlanda Airport only to discover to her horror when she came out that her son had made a run for it.

Sounds like a mom who doesn't know that you shouldn't leave your children unattended in a busy airport... especially if he is autistic.

/FAIL for NightOwl2255 and the stupid mom
//has autistic sister

The mum never left the boy alone, the boy ran away. I won't argue about giving your kid a chance to run away, but to say she left him at the airport when in fact she did no is a FAIL.

Wow, double fail.

Autistic Hiker:

The principal benefits are emotional in nature. Autism dogs basically help keep the child calm and focused, and the development of the child typically improves through interaction with the dog, including social development. There is also a significant safety benefit in that the dog is always present and can prevent, or warn of unsafe behavior.

Fantastic.

There is an emotional component to the things Rufus does for me - mainly, having to deal with him when I come to, make him stop licking my face and hands, and keep control of him (not too difficult, but the stimulation and concentration required helps me regain my faculties). There is a sense of security having him constantly by my side when I'm out and about.

Having him with me also interrupts the natural inclination of strangers who witness me having a seizure in public to call 911, which can get annoying and expensive.

Seizures can appear like they might prove fatal, but they very rarely are. :)

Rufus changed my life, basically preventing me from becoming an adult shut-in.

Good luck to you both - I hope it works out.

misleading headline- subby fails

The mother deserves the DUMBASS tag. She left the kid alone. You don't leave a 7 year old alone, especially an autistic kid.

Autistic Hiker: leash?

No leash for us. No way. That's too weird and twisted. We are considering a service dog, though.

/only happened to me once
//never again

No doubt. You only ever let that happen once. Ever.

by the power of the internets I find the mother guilty of negligence. She shall be sentenced to 100 postings of "Ha-Ha" guy

Fair. After all, this is Fark. ;-)


i foster a child with severe autism, but will not use a leash.

when on vacation, we take pictures of kids on leashes for out own special book.