Parents of a little girl with autism have spoken out after receiving a “hurtful” letter from their neighbors.
As Monica Newton from El Dorado Hills, California, explained, she and her husband Kevin were confronted by neighbors who accused their 6-year-old daughter with autism of disturbing them by making “distressing sound.”
According to the mother, who called the neighbors’ letter hurtful, her daughter Kayla sometimes shouts and makes noises due to her condition.
“It’s a way for her to get out her energy and for her to relax. These noises calm her,” she said in an interview with CBS 13.
Following three years of living in El Dorado Hills, Monica received a letter in which her neighbors asked her “to reduce the length of time and frequency” of her child’s episodes.
“Dear Neighbors, We reach out to you in the spirit of compassion, to address our concerns about the well-being of the neighborhood,” the letter read.
“As you may or may not be aware, many of us are being affected by your daughter’s long periods of shrieking throughout the day.
“Please know that we have empathy for your very difficult situation. Unfortunately, we are quite disturbed by this as it has a very real impact on our peace and quiet, as well as the enjoyment of our backyards.”
The letter added:
“Many of us are working from home and are on video calls with out clients who can hear this distressing sound. We would be so appreciative if you could try to reduce the length of time and frequency of these episodes so that we may resume some periods of tranquility that we previously enjoyed.
“Most Sincerely, Your Neighbors.”
After receiving the letter, Monica expressed feeling very hurt. “It’s very hurtful to read that stuff. This is our child. If we could help her we would,” she added in an interview with CBS 13.
“For somebody to say that she’s shrieking and it’s ruining their life, what about her life? What about her? She’s a freaking child, she’s six years old.”
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Replaced!