Autistic brothers told to “stay away” from other children – the reason has the internet boiling

Newsner

Pic from Caters News - (Pictured: William and Edward.) - A mum-of-two has claimed she has faced years of abuse from other parents who have branded her autistic sons weird. Gemma Ryan, 35, from Heanor, Derby, has said the abuse has been so severe that one dad even threatened to strangle her eldest at a play centre. She has often been met with outrage from members of the public who believe her sons, William, 10, and Edward, six, are naughty children who need firm handling.But the reality is that both Willaim and Edward suffer from Autism, with Edward also suffering for ADHD and Tourettes syndrome - meaning he often has uncontrollable ticks and that both boys can make loud noises or flap their arms when anxious.Mum-of-two Gemma said: I had gone to the playcentre on my own with the boys during the school holidays, at a time I thought would be a bit quieter so it would be easier for them to play and avoid any confrontation.A mum had made a comment that I should keep my weird boys away from her son and that I needed to understand they shouldnt be here. SEE CATERS COPY.

Gemma Ryan’s sons William and Edward are often forced to experience things no child should be subjected to.

The disabilities they have mean they’ve been targets for bullying, whilst they often have little control over sudden vocal outbursts and movements.

On that fateful day in August, 2016, when Gemma had taken her sons to a play center, she was approached by another mom who said she: “should keep my ‘weird’ boys away from her son and that I needed to understand they shouldn’t be here.”

Gemma, of course, wasn’t about to let another woman decide what her boys could and couldn’t do.

“I confronted her and told her my son was not weird and that she needed to educate herself on these kinds of conditions,” Gemma told the Daily Mirror.

A little over ten minutes later a man arrived at the play center with his son. The boy made friends with William and the two played for a time, before William put his arm around him.

As Gemma explains, the man suddenly freaked out, telling Gemma he would strangle William if he did it again.

Needless to say, the experience at the play center took its toll on Gemma and the boys.

It was an entire year before Gemma felt comfortable returning to the center.

“William is starting to understand more and more that he is not the same as others and that people will often him treat him differently, while Edward is still not old enough to understand,” Gemma said.

Gemma and her husband David have now started an initiative for children with autism, one designed to ensure they’re included and accepted in society.

The event, set up by David and his business partner, Chris Wright, included stalls selling sensory items, a silent disco, superhero characters and talks about autism.

“Spectrum” proved to be a major success, with around 1,000 people turning up to enjoy the day. William even performed his rendition of Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller”!

I’m so happy William and Edward were able to have the day they deserved at Spectrum.

Even so, it shakes me to my core that there are adults who can be so disrespectful to children with disabilities. Share this article to show your support for William and Edward!

Exit mobile version