People laughing at my disabled son

[Jennybeans401]

My ds has physical and mental disabilities. We are currently on holiday and I've been feeling upset today as several people have imitated/mocked him (not to his face but laughing in couples behind his back). They have also done this in front of me knowing I'm his mother.

It's made my family feel uncomfortable and I've been thinking should I speak to the hotel about it? We have worked hard to have a nice hiday and didn't expect the guests to be like this.

Who let the dogs out - is another good time you could play on your phone or just sing while looking/pointing at them and laughing.

I'd be taking no prisoners in this situation.

That is shocking. Utterly disgusting behaviour. I'm so sorry you and your son are experiencing this.

If it was me, I'd go up to them and ask them why they are being so mean. Talk to them and make them feel really bad and guilty. I couldn't ignore it.

I really feel for you OP.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better. If not, definitely speak to them and call them out.

I can't actually believe what I'm reading here! Especially as it's not even kids, it's adults who are obviously so ignorant and uneducated.

I'm raging and upset on your behalf Op - absolute fuckers.

It's great that your son didn't notice, so since this is the case, I'd say to ignore them and don't let them spoil your precious family time.

(I appreciate that that's easier said than done and I'd want to kill them, but if you get angry or raise your voice etc, then your DS may realise and get upset).

where are you? This happened to my son, twice in this country but the people who did it were foreigners.

Cultures are different

Just seen you are in Portugal. Sorry this is happening to you OP, it’s heartbreaking isn’t it 💐

They were Germans who mocked my boy OP, both times

Video them doing it and post it on tiktok/Insta reels? Hopefully it'll go viral and shame the crap outta them!

Don't feel sad or angry, try and feel pity for them. How sad their lives must be if they get their jollies by punching down. What happens to make someone that much of a dick?

Bastards. So angry reading this.

Try not to let them ruin your holiday- easier said than done. I can't believe grown adults are mocking anyone with a disability it's disgusting behaviour. Even if you rarely see it why would you think it's ok to stare and mock them?
And those saying it's cultural- she's in Europe what kind of backwards society is that okay nowadays?!
Sorry reading the thread really wound me up!

That is utterly appalling. I ‘m so sorry that this is happening to you. Some people are incredibly ignorant and nasty. It must be very hard for you. I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday-don’t let them ruin it for you.

Go all Basil Fawlty on them and remind them who won the war and who were the biggest cowards in Europe.

Ignorant pigs.

I'm pretty sure OP can make her point and stand up for her child without turning into a disgusting xenophobe!
As for the 'cowards', a significant number of them held the rear at Dunkirk and saved many a Brit's bacon (my grandfather included- there was no little boat to save him from 4 years as a POW). Somehow that bit always gets left out this side of the Channel.
Quit that fucking rhetoric.

Op, they're d@£ks. My ds has complex needs and I've been in a similar situation. My other ds put them in their place (He was only about 9 himself).

I'm not sure what the best course of action is. If you don't say something you'll have that feeling of not protecting/ standing up for you're child even if this is the more "adult"thing to do. If you do say something it could escalate or they may just not be bothered that they've hurt you (could also have the desired outcome). Either way it's hard. I hope you do what you feel you can live with the best or what you think will help you get on with enjoying the rest of your hols xx

All those people who say they would do this, that and the othe other when faced with ignorant people mocking a disabled child ,it's hard enough having a disabled child without having to turn to violence and aggression, and not everyone has the confidence to confront the ignorant.

I actually do think that within the grounds of the hotel you should be free of disability harassment by the other paying guests of the hotel under their roof, so in that regard I think you should raise it with the hotel in some way now or later. I know you’re in Portugal but in the UK wouldn’t the Equality Act require service users to act to a basic set of standards?

Hopefully the OP will be encouraged by the replies she’s had here to think about and practice something she could say the next time she meets with this sort of behavior. Not that she should have to but it’s either that or learning to be comfortable with ignoring it or getting upset every time it happens because it’s happened and you’re not happy with ignoring it.

Some really stupid suggestions here like throwing a bottle at them, punching them, playing loud music on repeat - how's that likely to help her son?

People are disgusting.

I'm not sure the hotel could do anything, but I would call these assholes out on their conduct. How dare they!

Also who are the 10% on here that voted YABU! Wtf!

I don’t think the op should feel she needs a perfect response to these arseholes. People often think they would say, or be a particular way when attacked by others. It’s a fantasy. We’d all like to be the one who bested the bully. We’d like to think our response would burn through their ignorance and hurt the as much as they have hurt us.

The reality is that disabled people and their families are incredibly vulnerable and they need the rest of us to help them. That’s what real inclusion looks like. It’s not about tolerating OP and her family being there. It’s about protecting them from arseholes and demanding that they are able to go about their lives without being subjected to this sort of abuse.

I would speak the manager OP and expect them to help. I would expect them and their staff to take a strong lead and intervene if this happens again. If they don’t support you and police a basic level of behaviour in their hotel then I think you could escalate things and email the head office/owners/tour operators. I hope your boy has a lovely end to his holidays. It sounds like you are doing a fabulous job of insulating him from the worst of it. I’m sorry you all have to be so brave. I’m sure theatre are lots of people reading who wish they could be there and help.

I would definitely be calling them out. At the very least stopping and staring them down. Bastards. I grew up with a disabled sister. I Often said ‘wtf you looking at??’ Or ‘ do you want a photograph??’

horrible behaviour

Been keeping you in my thoughts OP. Fuck them. It must be rotten being such an ignorant nasty person with no heart or kindness. Try to feel sympathy for such pathetic pieces of shit. Head tilt, sad expression and death stare.
And remember, we don't give a damn about the opinion of dog shit.

I can't believe people actually do this. So sad for you and your son OP.