4:40pm July 29, 2013

Good people.

Scene: An "outing" for our entire assisted living home. We'd been assured that it would be appropriate for everyone attending. Places for those who are sensory sensitive to escape too, and places for those that needed stimulation to also attend. It was a town fair, and we attended at a time when very few people were there.
Me: Walking with my aide away from a concert, enjoying a variety of stands that had various potted plants for sale.
Person selling potted plants: Turns on a stereo system. Very loud, deep bass (don't know what the music was).
Me: Become overwhelmed and let my aide know I need to leave.
Aide: "You have your headphones, those noise canceling ones that took forever to get. Use them!"
Me: Becoming more upset and moving to leave.
Aide: Grabs my arm "you can't leave without me. Just wait." Opens <i>my</i> bag and holds out the headphones. "Put these on. It's why you have them."
Me: I was overwhelmed and I know that I was crying and pulling my hair. I couldn't use my tablet but it didn't really matter as it was obvious that I needed to leave.
Total stranger, male: Do I need to call security?
Aide: "No. She's just overreacting. Don't worry I'm her aide. If only she'd use the damn headphones!"
Total stranger, male: "No, I mean call security on you." Stranger walks over to me, stands and looks. He then walks over to the person with the Stereo and then...quiet.
Aide: "Why would you call security on <i>me</i>?
Total Stranger: Because.
Aide: "Why?"
Total stranger: "You grabbed her and held her against her will. She obviously needed to leave and you wouldn't let her."
Aide: "She's Autistic"
Total Stranger: "And? What, are you going to shove some Autism Speaks shit at me? She has Autism. You're an ass. How the fuck are you even her aide? If someone was stabbing you in the stomach, would it be a good idea for me to roll you over so you could be stabbed more?"
Aide: No response.
Total stranger: walks back to me. Does not initiate eye contact. "In whatever way you can, let me know; should I get someone to help you?"
Me: I was calmer, but could only at that point stomp my foot. But I do remember everything said.
Total Stranger: "Okay, I'm getting security and they can help"
Aide: "You can't do that!"
Total Stranger: "Watch me. Touch her again and you'll need security."
Aide: "That's a threat!"
Total Stranger: Calls security, points me to his own tent where I could sit.
Security arrived and he explained everything, several people apparently fully backed him. I never learned total strangers name, never was really able to thank him.
My aide was fired!