This week regrettably an old post came to to mind. A post I wrote in 2017 simply titled Retard. One I hoped not to revisit but here we are.

On Wednesday Reilly wanted to go out on the bus. Shane was more than happy to take him as Reilly is tending to stay home more and more we think because of his anxiety around coughing. It has come to a point when on occasions he cant actually be sick through the sound of it. He still hurts himself when it happens and we are working hard to try and find solutions to it all as sadly it is something that will always be here and will never be something we can control.

They got the bus from our village, Reilly jumped on and made his way to the back happy and saying hi to other passengers while my husband bought tickets. As Reilly went to take his seat a teen said to him “You aren’t sitting there go and sit beside her you spacka”.

It is shocking, highly inappropriate and offensive language. It is not a word that Reilly knows but how long before he does?

Shane rightly raised the roof with this person. By the time they got home and I saw them Shane was visibly hurt and shaken by it, had the person been an adult I dread to think what the situation may have become. Shane voiced his utter disbelief that if someone can behave like that when he was present what are they capable of if Reilly was alone. It is terrifying. It reminded me of how fearful I am for his future and how appalling the human race can be. This happened on Wednesday and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

We know that autistic people are more likely to be bullied or be victims of hate crime than their neurotypical peers. This can be due to lack of understanding, differences in behaviour and communication, social challenges or perceived vulnerability. Sometimes its because the bully is just a vile specimen. None of these are reasons to be bullied. The affects are something that can stay with you including anxiety, depression, social withdrawal and isolation, PTSD and low self esteem.

And so we continue to try our best to educate individuals about autism, promoting acceptance and inclusion, and fostering empathy and understanding among all members of society.

Schools, families, and communities play a crucial role in creating environments where everyone, regardless of their differences, is treated with respect and kindness. Using inclusive and respectful language is crucial to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted.

Be Kind. It’s that simple. Call it out. Report it.