Rosemary Westwood, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 2:01 am July 7, 2008
The mother of an autistic girl is calling for “some sort of repercussions” after her family was kicked out of a local restaurant Saturday.
Sarah Seymour said her family often eats at the west end Smitty’s Family Restaurant when they come to Edmonton from Wainwright for her daughter’s autism treatment a few times a year.
Seymour said her five-year-old daughter, Eowyn, became upset when the meal she wanted to order wasn’t available. Seymour and her husband were calming their daughter down when the manager asked the family to leave.
“We tried to explain to the manager that she has autism and would be calm very shortly,” said Seymour. “She can’t help it.
“This is what happens; it’s part of the disorder.”
Seymour said the manager indicated that if Eowyn’s behaviour was part of her disorder, the family should not take her out in public.
“I will be contacting higher up management,” said Seymour. “If I don’t work to make the world more tolerant for (Eowyn) who will?”
The restaurant declined to comment on the incident.
Autism effects one in every 150 to 160 people, according to Health Canada.
Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms often include “repetitive behaviour and difficulties with social interaction, communication and learning.”
rwestwood@thejournal.canwest.com
Ed: there is a Facebook group dedicated to this story.
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