Discrimination Against Special Needs Children at the Richmond Art Center Summer Camp

Devon, my 7 year old son, was kicked out of art camp yesterday because he is autistic. Yes, autism was his only offense.

He didn’t hurt anyone. He didn’t damage anything. He merely displayed typical autistic-like behaviors including hiding beneath his desk, negativity, and crumpling his paper because the task at hand frustrated him.

While at work yesterday, I noticed my cell phone blinking with text messages and calls pouring in. Due to the nature of my work, I cannot tend to the phone while with clients but I knew before listening and reading that it was about my Devon. I could feel it.

My husband alerted me that Richard Ambrose, the executive director of the Richmond Art Center in Richmond CA, wanted to speak to me. I called him on my way home. Ambrose told me that Devon’s behavior was not something they could deal with. He reported that Devon seemed resistant to being there, he hid under the table at one point, and he was crumpling up his own art work when agitated. Ambrose then coldly told me Devon would not be allowed to attend unless I supply an adult to be with him at all times…..BUT, they would have to keep him under control, then, MAYBE, he could stay. It didn’t seem to matter that there are 5 volunteers in the classroom to assist the teacher creating almost a 2 :1 ratio of students to staff. Nor did it matter that Devon has his brother and three cousins attending camp with him either.

Ambrose peppered the conversation with this cowardly statement: “We aren’t trained to handle this”. I explained to him that no one has been trained to “handle” Devon. He is not violent or dangerous and he is involved in other activities that do not have such requirements because they are unnecessary. It doesn’t take special training to assist someone as high functioning as my child when engaged in fun activities. He only needs assistance if he becomes overwhelmed or over-stimulated. I explained to Ambrose that transitions are one of the most difficult hurdles in those with autism. I told him that it takes time for autistic people to get acclimated with new circumstances and environments. Peculiar behavior is to be expected as it is a social disorder, one could say that Devon is socially handicapped. It is all a bit ironic to me that my son is being dismissed for being different by an art facility considering peculiar, quirky behavior seem to be synonymous to the art world.

Devon attended the same camp last year and had difficulty in the beginning yet it worked out and he had a beautiful time. The difference this year appears to be that the “heart” (Kato Jaworski) of the Richmond Art Center is on sick leave. She was instrumental in working with the situation and making it a successful summer for Devon. It’s a shame that the staff this year doesn’t have the patience and compassion to extend the same considerations.

Prior to my conversation with Ambrose, I had spoken with my father who had been at Devon’s side for all but 45 minutes of the day. He was there for support and to observe. Nicole Kite, the woman at the front desk, was curt to both my father and son and appeared annoyed with Devon. Kiki Rostad, the clay teacher, made no effort to work with Devon nor did she bother to hide her distaste for him. She was rigid and clearly irritated. He asked too many questions, he didn’t behave the way she expected him to, and when he tried to assist her with the project, she was harsh with him. My father was perplexed by both women’s behavior. “Wasn’t this a summer art camp for children?”

When Devon had difficulty with the clay project they were working on, she did not interject with a modification, she held tight to her curriculum, despite the fact that he was struggling. When my father suggested to the volunteer assisting Devon that maybe he could be allowed to work with a clump of clay, she said “we can do that” and was given some. For the remainder of the clay class, Devon was happy and working diligently creating objects that he would show off to his grandpa.

Where was the instructor’s creativity? I can’t understand why she couldn’t have given him some room for error. If my son was in a wheelchair and couldn’t manage the task at hand, would they not make modifications? Would they be calling me to let me know that “they are trained to handle this” and kick him out?

After the mid morning recess break the class went to the painting studio where my father observed that Lisa di Prima, the drawing and painting instructor, appeared to be much more accommodating and tolerant, allowing Devon to express himself in the painting class and not suppressing his minor idiosyncrasies. She responded to his questions in a caring and respectful manner as opposed by what was observed from Kiki Rostad. After a slow start in this program, he ended up thoroughly enjoying the class and leaving the camp excited to return the next day. He was now displaying acclimation to the camp and moving forward as he did last summer. But then we received the termination call from the Richmond Art Center.

1 in 65 children are afflicted with autism. The numbers continue to climb. Eventually ignorant, intolerant, small-minded folks like Ambrose and some of his staff that participated in the termination of Devon are going to have to learn to deal with it. They will have no choice.

The part that kills me is that this is an art camp. Creativity should be paramount. Here is an extremely intelligent, creative child who marches to a beat you haven’t even heard of. A non-conformist through and through, and what do they do? Toss him aside as if he doesn’t matter or have feelings. Rick Ambrose and those of you at the Richmond Art Center involved in this discrimination toward children with special needs, shame on you. SHAME ON YOU.