Special needs Girl Scout troop rejects girl, 8, with autism

Ok, now I am hot. Not buying cookies at my job is politically untenable for me. Don't make me miss my Samoas over this crap. Let this child back in her troop. 'Cause I will say something about discrimination to every troop mom standing in front of the grocery store if I have to...

I am worked up...

Special needs Girl Scout troop rejects girl, 8, with autism
November 10, 12:23 PM
Seattle Special Needs Issues Examiner
Shelley Dillon

Was it a misunderstanding? Or some crazy mistake? Magi Klages' parents are wondering just that.

Their daughter with autism had been thriving for 2 years in a Girl Scout "Brownie program", an organization that pledges to "help people at all times" and to be "honest and fair, considerate and caring".

According to an ABC news report, when Magi's Brownie troop grew too large and her parents moved her to a smaller one for children with special needs, they never imagined their 8-year-old would be kicked out for being a "danger".
Magi's mother always accompanied her to the meetings and they thought the first one was going well for a child with autism in a brand new situation. Truthfully, Magi was having a tough time sitting down to do a project and needed to work through an episode of biting herself and running around at the meeting. She displayed many behaviors quite usual for children with autism but after the meeting the parents were called and told Magi could not come back.

The other children in the troop all have physical challenges and the troop leader alleged the other girls were afraid of her. Magi's parents are disturbed that their daughter was rejected because of her disability.

"We don't get it," said Michele Klages, who always accompanies Magi to the meetings. "She's 30 pounds and we were there. We were told she was scaring the other girls."
She said they had been up-front with the group leader about Magi, who is mostly nonverbal and relies on sign language to communicate. They were especially upset to learn the leader has a child with special needs.
It's terrible," said Michelle Tompkins, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, who said she had received a "courtesy call" from the local council about the incident. "We are very inclusive and have a national policy against all forms of discrimination."

Anita Rodrigues, spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, did not return several phone calls from ABCNews.com. But Michele Klages says the council contacted her about the possibility of finding another troop for Magi to join.

Even the Autism Society of America admits that the Girl Scouts do "wonderful work" with children with disabilities and has often contributed volunteers to help children with this neurological disorder. It says that children with autism are rarely dangerous to others and that the incident illustrates the need for more support and training in organizations like the Girl Scouts.

Why did this happen? We will probably never know as the Girl Scout are evoking confidentially and will not share details.
Sadly, this whole incident could demonstrate a lack of autism awareness and basic information about the disorder. Surely in a special needs program, leaders would possess the level of understanding, background and compassion to be able to include children with all special needs or ask for some more help.

If the other girls were scared of Megin's behavior, that would have been the appropriate time to have a teaching moment; discuss autism and common behavioral issues associated with it. Model understanding, empathy and kindness; that is the what the Girl Scouts are all about.

"These children are so misunderstood," said Michele Klages. "We need to educate ourselves that these kids can be loving and fun. They should be given a chance like any other child."