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.

This ^ I have a brother with disabilities and people can be so cruel. If I were you my fist would be twitching to punch them in the face, but obvs this is not recommended!!

The French people actually told you she should stay at home? Good grief.

Try not to focus on those cunts.
I'm so sad for you but dwelling on those utter cunts will do you no good.

How old is your little boy and what have you been doing while on holiday? It's lovely that you got away. What a lovely experience for him.

Is he loving his time away? I know that children love swimming pools and such. Is he learning to swim? How did he find the flight? Has he had fun?

Does he like the food? What is his favourite food on his trip? My dd loved flying and the weird food that I wouldn't try but she would. She loved everything about travelling.

You're such a lovely lady and your husband is a lovely man that he is willing to fight for his little boy. Your boy is truly a lucky child.

Good God! I am so angry on your behalf OP what utter scum.

Utterly shocking. I'm so sorry your son has to deal with this ignorance. I'm not surprised you and DH are so upset. I really hope it ends here.

I’m sorry you are having to even think about this OP. These people are absolute cunts.

I have mouthed FUCK OFF at someone who was taking the mickey out of DD.

I have to say though, we holidayed in France throughout her childhood and never experienced anything negative there. The arsehole I mouthed at was a British woman in a shop in the Lake District.

I reckon "fuck off you cunt" is more universally understood

Anyone child or adult at any point in they're lives can end up with a disability. Either through illness or accident. I know someone who had a head injury at two. He had concussion it was then they discovered he had an anurism. He says that head injury saved his life. He developed cerebral palsy and epilepsy. But he doesn't dwell on it.

This really pissed me off when I was with ex fiance. His dB was in a special wheelchair severe brain damage, fed by tube in his stomach and not able to speak. Had to change his nappies too (he was 24 ). His parents were used to it but I would call the starers out. One guy even came right up in his face to look at him with disgust. I shouted at him to fuck off.

Practice a few French phrases:

"excusez-moi madame, est-ce que vous avez un probleme ?" - excuse me madame, have you got a problem?

"vous vous moquez d'un enfant handicapé ?! Sérieusement ?" - you're mocking a disabled child, seriously?

"Est-ce que ça vous fait sentir puisante, madame ? Pathétique." - does it make you feel more powerful, madam? Pathetic.

Or, to be quite honest, just let your husband get on with it. They won't do it again.

I just can't get my head around ADULTS mocking a child. How pathetic and sad must their little lives be?

@Maireas
That the disabled child is left at home (I presume with granny) or they attend residential school- as it was in the summer holidays I presume residential school is a euphemism for shut away at an institution! My dd is currently at university, not talking about severe disability!

People can be so ignorant, rude and selfish! I taught special needs students for years. Every single one of my students gave me so much in return! I’m sure your DS has so many special qualities, even is smile will be special! You won’t meet or see these ignorant people again, so just ignore them, pretending they don’t exist, even smile in the knowledge you know how special your boy is.
Hope you all have an amazing holiday.

Video them and stick their faces all over twitter

See? This is the type of message that pisses me off. People "abroad", meaning outside the UK, are not nastier than people in your own country.

Arseholes who mock, make fun and abuse disabled people happen in every country including your own. You confront them for their behaviour head on instead of enabling them by saying nothing, posting on a website and wondering whether to complain to the hotel.

But hey, you can holiday at home next time and when someone mocks your son, blame it on the weather. Incredible.

How many children do you have op

I just want to say how sorry I am you're having to deal with this. It's so bloody cruel. I'm glad your son is having a lovely time - well done for that - but you and your husband shouldn't have to feel so desperately hurt on his behalf. What the fuck is wrong with people?

God, people are such cruel arseholes. Awful OP. It’s not you, it’s them. They are ignorant and you have to pity them.
Hold your head high and rise above it. Don’t give them power or permission to spoil anything about your holiday.

I find looking people in the eye and shaking my head in a disappointed way is a good balance between not doing anything and confrontation. You can add pointing too so there is no doubt who you mean. It’s universal too. While it’s tempting to get angry at them and make a scene, that’s ultimately not going to make your holiday any easier.

Saying that, I’ve also found people stop laughing pretty quickly when my beefy partner slowly walks towards them and asks if there is a problem or to repeat what they said.

As for the hotel staff, I side with saying something. If guests were acting inappropriately in any other way you would tell them so they can prevent it from happening again. It’s the job of the hotel employees to ensure guests have a pleasant stay (or make it clear you will write a review stating that they are not disability/minority friendly if they do nothing).

I have seen very rude behaviour before in SOME people; Dutch, German, French, Spanish... also English
Unashamed pointing at people, and rude jokes. Have even had a word with one I knew myself personally - who thought it was funny to mimic a limp to use a disabled toilet on the airport.

But I do not think it is a culture in itself, it is just rude, horrible people, with a lack of empathy, empowering each other, like all bullies do.
Bullies can be everywhere. Often flock together.

I agree, they are best avoided, if you’re not up for having a rant.

We, the people who I believe do have some empathy need to help backing each other up in public, instead of looking away.
Not everyone is equipped to do a stand up or shout it out..

Unfortunately, in this world the gentle, sweet people are often ‘outshouted’ by the loud, obnoxious ones..
And it’s not on !

What would disarm the pair of cunts is if your little boy drew a picture (a black crayon is what I'd be inclined to use, but maybe give him the opportunity to draw a picture for the 'lovely women'). And then let your little boy go and hand it to them.

Or, get your DH to whack them lol.

I would genuinely end up banged up abroad lol.

Saw this in Majorca with a family who had a child in a wheelchair, she appeared to have cerebral palsy, her little body was contorted with one leg over the other.
Her mother was feeding her as she couldn’t hold a spoon. A group of German kids and adults were mimicking her posture and head jerking movements. It was so obvious.
The hotel provided a reserved table for the family at mealtimes in a more secluded part of the restaurant.

Video them and stick their faces all over twitter

Taking out your phone and pretending to film them is actually a pretty good idea too.

That’s appalling! I am so sorry OP. Some people are just bloody horrible. Grown adults behaving like that! My 8 year old knows that is rude and hurtful! Adults have no excuse!

Some people have no manners.

They're foolish scum who don't care about hurting anyones feelings.

I'd ask them if they think he doesn't understand and isn't hurt by their behaviour, ask them if because he is disabled they have the right to make him feel sad and uncomfortable. Don't get cross. Shame the fuck out of them.

Big hug to you. It must be infuriating but saying something will help you get past it rather than letting your feelings fester.