Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Demovictory9

(32,323 posts)
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 12:49 AM Jun 2019

An autistic boy had a meltdown at a theme park, and an employee's simple, soothing act of solidarity

An autistic boy had a meltdown at a theme park, and an employee’s simple, soothing act of solidarity went viral




https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/06/07/theme-park-employee-lay-down-ground-next-an-autistic-boy-having-meltdown-her-act-solidarity-went-viral/?utm_term=.6e2c74fdd783

Lenore Koppelman had a professional conference to attend in Florida last week and decided it would be a perfect opportunity to visit Universal Orlando Resort with her husband and 9-year-old son, Ralph.


--------------------


“He was SO patient for SO long. As patient as he possibly could be,” Koppelman wrote. “He would say, ‘Okay’ and sigh, and then enjoy the next ride. But all the while, the excitement was building up to the pinnacle of his day: The Spider-Man ride.”

As the family approached the Spider-Man ride in the late afternoon and was about to get on, an employee announced that the ride was malfunctioning and would be closed. Koppelman, 44, and her husband Steve, 49 — who had gotten the family free tickets because he works as a computer technician for NBC in New York — knew Ralph was going to become overwhelmed and lose control of his emotions.

“My husband and I know the signs. We could see it coming, like an oncoming train. And yet we couldn’t dodge out of the way. There was nowhere else to go,” she wrote. “The autistic meltdown was GOING to HAPPEN. And happen it DID.”


Ralph collapsed to the floor while people were trying to leave the Spider-Man ride, “sobbing, screaming, rocking, hyperventilating, and truly struggling to breathe,” Koppelman wrote.

But as Koppelman was trying to get Ralph up from the ground to protect him, something unexpected happened.

A ride attendant who had been working the Spider-Man ride rushed up and told Koppelman it was all right for Ralph to stay where he was.

“She got down on the floor WITH HIM,” Koppelman wrote. “She rested next to him while he cried his heart out, and she helped him breathe again. She spoke to him so calmly, and while he screamed and sobbed, she gently kept encouraging him to let it all out.”

The ride attendant, Jennifer Whelchel — known by her colleagues as “Mama Jen” — told people who were stopping during his meltdown to please move along, and she also asked strangers not to take pictures.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
An autistic boy had a meltdown at a theme park, and an employee's simple, soothing act of solidarity (Original Post) Demovictory9 Jun 2019 OP
K&R for visibility. nt tblue37 Jun 2019 #1
Wow. How wonderful. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2019 #2
I have a severely autistic brother Skittles Jun 2019 #3
I have a mildly autistic son. Asperger's. Which of course is no longer on the diagnostic spectrum. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2019 #4
it is very hard Skittles Jun 2019 #6
My first thought was SIB. Ilsa Jun 2019 #8
we think it was a fingernail digging into his palm Skittles Jun 2019 #9
We really do still have some good Samaritans in the world. KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2019 #5
K & R ... + 1,000,000 for exposure ... K and R and K and R .... rinse repeat MFGsunny Jun 2019 #7
Thank you for taking the time to explain the details of this event. magicarpet Jun 2019 #10

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
2. Wow. How wonderful.
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 01:20 AM
Jun 2019

I have no idea if that employee had any clue that Ralph was in any way autistic, but the caring is incredible.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
4. I have a mildly autistic son. Asperger's. Which of course is no longer on the diagnostic spectrum.
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 02:14 AM
Jun 2019

Too bad, because it's a valid and useful diagnosis.

Mild autism is bad enough. I cannot begin to imagine what it is like to have a brother who is severely autistic.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
6. it is very hard
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 05:24 AM
Jun 2019

I saw him last month and noticed his hand was red...the next day it was red, shiny and swollen....I asked if something bit him, no response...I asked if it hurt, no response.....took him to doctor, it was cellulitis and yes it hurts....he won't tell us if something is wrong

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
8. My first thought was SIB.
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 07:37 AM
Jun 2019

Self Injurious Behaviors, like biting, from a day or so ago.

We live with that as a quiet meltdown.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
9. we think it was a fingernail digging into his palm
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 05:36 PM
Jun 2019

he had been clenching his hand.....we are trying to keep them trimmed better

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
5. We really do still have some good Samaritans in the world.
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 04:00 AM
Jun 2019

Good job, Ms. Whelchel.

She has a family member with a similar condition......

Ralph reminded her of her 8-year-old nephew, who is also autistic. She said it was instinctual for her to lie down with him, because she wanted to be on his level to be able to connect with him, but also wanted to be sure he had his own space.

It was exactly what Ralph needed, and in fact, lying down with him is what teachers and other professionals are trained to do when autistic children are having these types of meltdowns, Koppelman said. But it was so unusual that someone without professional training knew what to do, she added.


Whelchel told Koppelman that Universal employees are given sensitivity and awareness training. But dropping to the floor with Ralph was not part of any training session.

So why did it work? Koppelman said Whelchel’s approach was effective because it is supportive and nonconfrontational. Some people think an autistic meltdown is a child acting entitled, Koppelman said, but it actually happens when a child is overwhelmed by emotions, and the outbursts are quite scary for that child, she said. Also, eye contact can be stressful for autistic children.

Perhaps some specialty medical response training should be part of all employee first aid training, especially for large public venues.

......

magicarpet

(13,941 posts)
10. Thank you for taking the time to explain the details of this event.
Sat Jun 8, 2019, 07:30 PM
Jun 2019

Often the general public no matter how caring they are or intend to be - just do not understand the dynamics of these events.

Taking the time to explain what is happening, why, how, who,..... is very helpful for people who don't quite or full understand what is in motion during these events.

People open to educating themselves, and who are inclined to being somewhat to very much more compassionate, and open to expanding their levels of understanding will find these more detailed explanations very helpful.

In meltdown situations of this nature the more people who understand the dynamics of what is going on - the best possible outcome derived for all parties concerned as people struggle to find a conclusion.

Again thank you for explaining this and walking us through it. You have enhanced and brought upon a higher level of understanding and compassion.

That is what makes DU.... DU.... miles upon miles,.. light years and galaxies ahead of the Breitbarts and Free Rebublics of this world.

Sharing knowledge, helping one another to learn, walking away with a high level of understanding - that is how we make our society better than it was yesterday.

Don't stop - Carry on.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»An autistic boy had a mel...