Dear Emily,
Today, I brought my 10-year-old son to Wendy’s during your shift for a quick lunch. When you greeted him and asked how he was doing, I noticed his response was a bit jumbled, which might have surprised you. You glanced at me, and then back to him, as he continued speaking—something that often happens in our daily lives. As his devoted speech and language coach, I gently prompted him, saying, “Just say, ‘I’m good!’”
But then, you completely caught me off guard. Instead of looking to me for guidance, you turned to him directly. He confidently answered your questions, and you leaned in, asking, “So, you want a cup of water, right?” He nodded enthusiastically. “Aren’t you having anything to eat? What else?” When he excitedly launched into a string of words, you patiently asked him to slow down and try again. “Fries,” he finally said, albeit a bit unclear. “What size?” you inquired. “Medium,” he replied. “Perfect! Anything else?” You glanced at me, and I shook my head as my son declared, “Nope!”
What you didn’t realize, as we held up the line, is that my son has childhood apraxia of speech. Yet, the label of his condition didn’t matter to you. What really mattered was ensuring you understood his order correctly. You treated him as an equal patron in your restaurant; he was just another customer. You recognized his competence—not your version, but his. You allowed him the dignity of time to express himself. You even asked for his name to display on the order screen, checking to ensure you spelled it correctly. He was thrilled to help with that.
You likely didn’t anticipate receiving accolades or a feature in a news segment for your thoughtful actions. You simply wanted a 10-year-old at your counter to place an order like any other child might on a Friday afternoon.
Advocacy and inclusion are nuanced concepts. When they stem from genuine equality, empathy, and understanding, they create a positive impact. However, when they lack authenticity, they can inadvertently marginalize those they aim to support. By merely “allowing” my child to take part in activities, like being prom king or making a game-winning shot, well-meaning individuals might continue to diminish his true abilities. It seems there’s a persistent assumption that he requires special consideration to achieve these things, rather than recognizing his inherent value and potential.
Your genuine approach, Emily, is the kind of advocacy that can truly transform societal perceptions of disability. Thank you for turning a simple lunch into a moment filled with hope and respect.
Warm regards,
His mom
In summary, this heartfelt acknowledgment highlights a cashier’s genuine connection and advocacy towards a child with special needs. By treating him with dignity and respect, she exemplified what true inclusion and understanding should look like.
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