Helping my son with autism

H

highfieldsouthshore

Well-known member
I have a 15 year old on who aoffers from autism but loves to go in the north a he loves the atmosphere , he won’t sit next to his dad as he says I’m uncool but on Wednesday he was forced out of the ground by a heavy handed steward as he went to the toilet, he also uggera torets and as he can’t help it called the steward a few choice names he was shouting swear works in the south the fans were great but the stewards were telling him ti stop . Now anyone who know autism it’s harder then it looks to keep your mouth shut . All I’m saying is can’t he club not keep an eye out for lads like my son why have autism and calm the situation down instead of getting aggressive towards him . He was quite upset when he got hom and is within two mins to ever return agin. Thanks and sorry for the rant
 
highfieldsouthshore said:
I have a 15 year old on who aoffers from autism but loves to go in the north a he loves the atmosphere , he won’t sit next to his dad as he says I’m uncool but on Wednesday he was forced out of the ground by a heavy handed steward as he went to the toilet, he also uggera torets and as he can’t help it called the steward a few choice names he was shouting swear works in the south the fans were great but the stewards were telling him ti stop . Now anyone who know autism it’s harder then it looks to keep your mouth shut . All I’m saying is can’t he club not keep an eye out for lads like my son why have autism and calm the situation down instead of getting aggressive towards him . He was quite upset when he got hom and is within two mins to ever return agin. Thanks and sorry for the rant
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Feel for you dude. But due to his condition the world isn't ready to be aware or sympathetic to his condition. Especially in a football ground.

He might think dad is "uncool" at 15 years old, but he'll thank you for watching over him and being with him when he's older.

If he were my boy then I'd have to accompany him. I know that's not easy.
 
Good for you Highfield. My mate has an autistic son in his 30s and takes him everywhere. Takes real dedication and love.
 
Hopefully he will still go ,as already said tell him to sit with you ,also contact the club direct i am sure they have someone who looks after any one with a diability and explain to them about his autism and tourettes,and that he likes to be seated on his own i know how difficult it can be as i look after people like your son in my job with council,good luck
 
This is sad that the steward didn’t give him time of day
I’d email the club and explain the situation as I’m sure they have things in place. I sit in block D and there’s always empty seats next to me
If you want at the next match I can meet you outside the north and he can stand and chant and enjoy himself with me for the duration of the match
 
michellebutterflyhotel said:
This is sad that the steward didn’t give him time of day
I’d email the club and explain the situation as I’m sure they have things in place. I sit in block D and there’s always empty seats next to me
If you want at the next match I can meet you outside the north and he can stand and chant and enjoy himself with me for the duration of the match
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Good on you Michelle!
 
Feel for you but not really sure what the club can do the seat you pay for should be the seat you sit in however uncool to sit with Dad especially as he's still classed as a child.
The security a lot are agency staff which makes it more complex also so wouldn't get to know the lad and be understanding.
Hope you get it sorted.
 
highfieldsouthshore said:
I have a 15 year old on who aoffers from autism but loves to go in the north a he loves the atmosphere , he won’t sit next to his dad as he says I’m uncool but on Wednesday he was forced out of the ground by a heavy handed steward as he went to the toilet, he also uggera torets and as he can’t help it called the steward a few choice names he was shouting swear works in the south the fans were great but the stewards were telling him ti stop . Now anyone who know autism it’s harder then it looks to keep your mouth shut . All I’m saying is can’t he club not keep an eye out for lads like my son why have autism and calm the situation down instead of getting aggressive towards him . He was quite upset when he got hom and is within two mins to ever return agin. Thanks and sorry for the rant
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As you can see from the username I am on the spectrum myself. Does your son have a sunflower lanyard? This tells people that someone has a hidden disability such as Autism and Tourettes. I would also want @SLO_BFC or @BFCCT to start up some sort of Autism friendly area in the ground, some sort of sensory room like at Swansea city.
 
michellebutterflyhotel said:
This is sad that the steward didn’t give him time of day
I’d email the club and explain the situation as I’m sure they have things in place. I sit in block D and there’s always empty seats next to me
If you want at the next match I can meet you outside the north and he can stand and chant and enjoy himself with me for the duration of the match
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We have a disability liason officer, chris.beveridge@blackpoolfc.co.uk
 
yeh, feel for him. As others have said, I'd contact the SLO to try and make sure this doesn't happen again. Also, the chief steward needs to be made aware. I'd have thought his role would often place him somewhere around the north as that is often where most incidents occur.
 
Apparently my oldest grandson has been banned from watching his son (12y.o.) playing football.
G/son gets carried away and Effs & Blinds etc all the game apparently.
Must be his maternal G/mothers side he gets it from.😉 Or his G/dad. (not my son)
G/G/son apparently is a very good player.
 
Alright wearing a discrete lanyard or wrist band but no one recognises what they are. My experience with a son on the spectrum is to engage with stewards who at every ground I have been to are very sympathetic. Definitely contact the SLO at the club and as human beings lets educate ourselves not to judge because hidden disabilities or what they say on the tin - Hidden!!. Be great if the club could raise awareness on this and other issues, but I get it's not their issue to own. Man C were the first club to have ASD friendly quiet rooms, every credit to them and are not alone.
 
highfieldsouthshore said:
I have a 15 year old on who aoffers from autism but loves to go in the north a he loves the atmosphere , he won’t sit next to his dad as he says I’m uncool but on Wednesday he was forced out of the ground by a heavy handed steward as he went to the toilet, he also uggera torets and as he can’t help it called the steward a few choice names he was shouting swear works in the south the fans were great but the stewards were telling him ti stop . Now anyone who know autism it’s harder then it looks to keep your mouth shut . All I’m saying is can’t he club not keep an eye out for lads like my son why have autism and calm the situation down instead of getting aggressive towards him . He was quite upset when he got hom and is within two mins to ever return agin. Thanks and sorry for the rant
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Any day now I will be due to get a diagnosis for my son who will be 5 this July. He had encephalitis which has left will assorts of issues. He requires a wheel chair because he has hyper mobility which causes him pain so we opted for a mobility push chair as we knew he would be happy in that. I’ve had several people tell me he should walking, he looks normal there’s nothing wrong with him ect ect.
There is no educating some so we have to put up with it. I bite my lip smile and walk away before I do something I will regret. My advise is contact the club and ask for a face to face with some to discuss the incident and ask for a resolution to stop this happening again. I’m sure it will only take 5 minutes to inform all stewards during there meeting pre match to hand out a piece of paper with seat number and names and to tell them he has torrets.
 
Hastings said:
Alright wearing a discrete lanyard or wrist band but no one recognises what they are. My experience with a son on the spectrum is to engage with stewards who at every ground I have been to are very sympathetic. Definitely contact the SLO at the club and as human beings lets educate ourselves not to judge because hidden disabilities or what they say on the tin - Hidden!!. Be great if the club could raise awareness on this and other issues, but I get it's not their issue to own. Man C were the first club to have ASD friendly quiet rooms, every credit to them and are not alone.
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Exactly. You have to own the situation. The club assure me that the stewards are fully trained/aware, but if there are several thousand fans all making a noise, you can't expect them to remember specific seats etc. And many of the stewards at the moment are agency staff brought in on short notice, given a minimal briefing.
So if you don't want problems, you have to minimise the risk - pre-plan, sitting somewhere appropriate, engaging with the stewards, which involves getting in early before they are too busy. If it's an away match make sure you can move somewhere more suitable if you need to - contact the club in advance, before you buy tickets. We've done Swansea (excellent - even arranged for someone to find us and offer assistance if required) and Stoke (good) this year, but didn't go to Huddersfield because they were absolutely useless when asking in advance about suitability.
 
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