Escorted Off

(KUTV) Utah parents of children with autism are speaking out after a flight with an autistic teen was diverted to Salt Lake International Airport. The flight started in Florida and was headed to Portland before the pilots decided to make an unexpected stop in Utah.

Midflight, the pilot made an announcement, unbeknownst to the family involved, that he was making an emergency landing. The cross-country flight was forced down on Tuesday. While some have said the pilot did the right thing because the teen with autism was being disruptive, many more say the pilot and flight attendants could have helped the family instead of kicking them off.

Dr. Donna Beegle was flying with her husband and 15-year-old autistic daughter. When the plane touched down, they were escorted off their flight by Salt Lake police. On cellphone video you can hear a passenger say, this is going to be a lawsuit. They were right.  The Oregon couple is planning to sue United Airlines for discrimination to help bring awareness to the troubles of traveling with autistic children when flight crews are unwilling to help.

That’s what happened to the Beegle family last Tuesday. Juliette, 15, was making noises midflight because she was hungry. Her mom had snacks packed but at that moment she needed the comfort of warm food in the strange setting she was in.

Her mother bought a sandwich that was supposed to be warm but wasn’t. Her next request was to purchase a meal from first class. Because the family was flying coach, flight attendants initially refused. That’s when the teen got anxious.

“Accommodations of warm food for a child with autism seems like a simple request to me,” said Nelson.

While simple, and something the flight crew could control, they chose not to work with the family. Nelson says that’s the trouble. There is nothing simple about getting help for an autistic child. Autism she says, “seems to be the invisible disability. We would make accommodations for a wheel chair, for someone with a boot or extra assistance. Autistic children are a part of society.”

This incident has left a hole in my heart. I especially “cherish” all the comments online, which I will not include because too many of the contributors are artlessly clueless.

Know-it-alls.

What most people do not realize is that parents and children with unique problems are always being put off the plane.

They are put off the plane by not getting invited to birthday parties.

They are put off the plane in the classroom; especially at recess.

They are put off the plane by special education teachers who abuse them.

They are put off the plane when everyone else is going to the prom.

They are put off the plane when they can’t get married or have children or own their own home.

They are put off the plane when they can’t get a job.

They are put off the plane by doctors who either exploit or ignore them.

They are put off the plane by dentists who take their money but never really clean their teeth.

They are put off the plane by neighbors who barely tolerate them and are condescending.

They are put off the plane by family members who find fault with how they are pampered and know all they need is a little discipline and responsibility; and who never think the parents need a break.

They are put off the plane by religious leaders who assume the parents incapable of making decisions. Incongruously, the religious leaders who also have children with disabilities are the most supercilious.

They are put off the plane when humanity dehumanizes them and their parents by being disrespectful, judgmental, rejecting, rebuking, rebuffing, and ostracizing them.

I don’t know why this incident made the news.

It’s been going on for eons of time.

When the plane touches down, they are escorted off their flight by the police.