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A mother has shared her experience of feeling pressured to leave a circus performance prematurely due to staff misunderstandings about her autistic son’s behaviour. Kendra Hazlett attended the show in Londonderry with her five-year-old son Albie, who is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum. They were seated in a ringside cubicle when staff twice asked Kendra to ensure Albie remained “in his seat,” despite her attempts to explain his needs.
Kendra expressed that Albie had been very happy throughout the show, enjoying the lights and proximity to the ring that the cubicle seat provided. However, as the performance progressed, a staff member approached and insisted that Albie be seated. Kendra responded by describing Albie’s behaviours, which included jumping, arm-flapping, and making noises—actions known as stimming, a common form of self-regulation in autistic individuals, according to the National Autistic Society. She reassured the staff that Albie was safe and not in any danger or disruptive to others.
After the staff member asked a second time for Albie to be seated, Kendra said she felt so embarrassed by the situation, especially as other audience members were present. Acknowledging that it was impossible for an excited autistic child to stop stimming and stay still, she explained, “It’s physically not possible. So we felt like we had to leave – that just caused Albie complete distress at that point.”
Tom Duffy’s Circus responded by emphasizing its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment. They stated that their staff are trained to remind audience members to stay seated and keep their hands within the ring’s barriers to maintain safety for both performers and attendees. The circus acknowledged that they were not informed of Albie’s needs prior to the performance, which prevented them from making reasonable adjustments or offering different seating. They have since contacted Kendra to discuss her family’s experience and proposed a one-on-one tour and improved training for staff on autism awareness to enhance future customer experience
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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