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Satanica

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http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2017/04/tom_hallman_a_portland_boy_who.html
A 15-year-old Portland boy who won a contest sponsored by a national fraternal organization recently learned that officials withdrew the prize, apparently because he has autism.

Niko Boskovic had to beat out other Portland contestants to be one of five finalists interviewed and judged by members of North Portland's Peninsula Odd Fellows Lodge. Niko wrote an essay on the history of Ukraine and submitted letters of recommendation from his teachers.

Niko was the clear winner, said David Scheer, lodge secretary. He said lodge members raised money to cover all costs Niko and a second winner needed to make the trip.
[....]
As a winner, Niko received an email from Charles Cloud, the Odd Fellows jurisdictional chairman for Oregon. The email asked all delegates to email him their essays, application form and delegate registration form.

A week later, Niko's mother, Loreta, wrote to Cloud: My son Niko Boskovic was selected as a recipient of the UN pilgrimage. As you may be aware, he is on the autism spectrum, and I will be traveling with him to support his communication on a letterboard.

She said while getting her son's application packet complete, she noticed Niko's passport was about to expire. She told Cloud she had an appointment to submit that paperwork.
[....]
After getting no response, she called Cloud.

"He told me that it wasn't a done deal that Niko was going to be able to attend," she said. "The U.N. program's board of directors was reviewing his application, and would make a decision.

"This was surprising, to say the least, because there were no details outlined about further eligibility criteria," she said. "Nothing about disability, nothing about case-by-case determinations in the information we received or on the program's website."

In early March, Cloud emailed Boskovic: Loreta, I have received the UNEPY, Inc. Board's decision concerning Niko. I am attaching what I have below.

Janet Bruce, the group's executive director wrote: The Board of Directors has instructed me to tell you this delegate will not be accepted for the tour."

The email added chaperones were not allowed on the tour and referred questions to Charles Renninger, a past sovereign grand master,[....]

Scheer, with the North Portland lodge, said his group was "totally blindsided.

"We called national for an explanation," he said. "We were told they don't have the staff and knowledge to be accountable for someone with a disability."

So Niko, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3, will be stuck in Portland this summer.
[....]
"All of us banded together to challenge the decision," Scheer said.

They sent a letter to Renninger requesting an explanation.

"This letter is a follow up to our telephone conversation on Thursday, March 9, 2017 with PSGM Charles Renninger concerning how the Board's decision relates to the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Divisions, Disability Rights Section, ADA Effective Communication. We look forward to your response."

"We got nowhere," Scheer said. "They refunded our money, and they've refused to talk with us."

I called and left messages for Bruce and Renninger. I also emailed both. Like the local officials, I heard nothing.

Scheer called the decision "ridiculous."
[....]
Niko has never been a problem, which I discovered last year when I spent time with him and wrote about his life and journey to be part of the world. As a baby, he met all his developmental milestones, but lost his ability, at 3, to use language because of a severe case of autism.
[....]
His parents fought for and won a spot for Niko in a general education kindergarten. But, they recall, a teacher told his parents she didn't want their son in class because she didn't have the energy to deal with the disruptions. At the end of the school year, his parents, who also have a younger daughter, decided to teach Niko at home, paying to have a behavioral specialist guide them. The family lives near the University of Portland, and they found students majoring in psychology could receive class credit for working with Niko.

Several years ago, his mother learned about Rapid Prompting Method, and Niko worked with a therapist to master the letter board. The device looks like a placemat with the letters of the alphabet spread across five rows and simple punctuation off to one side. By using the letter board, Niko could interact with the world.
[....]
he told his mother he wanted to attend a public school, specifically, Trillium Charter School, less than a mile from the Boskovic home. But to gain admittance Niko first had to get permission from the school district, which sent two evaluators to watch him and his mother using the letter board. The evaluators noted that Niko seemed talented and gifted. They recommended he be admitted to Trillium.

"He's fully integrated in the school," his mother said. "His freshman year, he focused almost exclusively on academics. More than 25 kids in the school know how to use his letter board, so this year he is much more social and building strong relationships with kids."
[....]
After the national organization rescinded the offer, Boskovic said, she called Renninger. If they believed they needed extra help with Niko, she said, she was willing to come on the trip to be with him, ready to pay $1,600 out of her pocket.,

"He told me he was fully aware of who I was," Boskovic said. "He told me he was under instructions not to talk with me. We haven't received anything in writing explaining why Niko isn't allowed to go on the trip. The local lodge has been a huge support."

She said she and her husband have contacted Disability Rights Oregon, an advocacy group, believing Niko's exclusion might be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I was shocked when she brought this to us," said Gordon C. Magella, an attorney with the group. "I have never seen something so blatant with no explanation.
[....]
Magella said it's particularly upsetting given the trip's purpose.

The program, started in 1949 by the Sovereign Grand Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is billed as "an opportunity of a lifetime to observe the United Nations in person while exchanging views on education, politics and religion."

"They bring youth from all over the world to gather and share," Magella said. "What they're essentially saying is they don't want input from Niko."

He said Niko's reliance on the letterboard is no different than a person who is deaf relying on a sign language interpreter on a tour, or a person who is blind needing a seeing eye dog.

Magella said the local lodge and the Boskovic family have been unable to get any explanation why Niko has been excluded.

"Nothing," he said. "We will see what happens when they get something from me with my letterhead that says attorney. We will demand accommodation or an explanation."
[....]

It's too late, so he still won't get to go. He's only a sophomore and can try again next year, because it's open to juniors, too.
 
I really hate how these parents with autistic kids expect the entire fucking world to bow down and accomodate their every single pain in the ass need.
 
So wait, let me try to get this.

This organization had an essay contest, to identify and select intelligent students who'd be interested in visiting the U.N., and Niko was selected as one of those students.

Then they heard a bunch of words they didn't understand, that perhaps made them feel uncomfortable, and rather than take the time to learn more and assess the situation, decided that their comfort was more important than...their selection criteria?

And wait, what? Chaperones not allowed? JEEZUS, that makes my hinkey meter go off.
 
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So wait, let me try to get this.

This organization had an essay contest, to identify and select intelligent students who'd be interested in visiting the U.N., and Niko was selected as one of those students.

Then they heard a bunch of words they didn't understand, that perhaps made them feel uncomfortable, and rather than take the time to learn more and assess the situation, decided that their comfort was more important than...their selection criteria?

And wait, what? Chaperones not allowed? JEEZUS, that makes my hinkey meter go off.
Yeah, I think you got it summed up quite well there.

And, @JackBurton, I understand where you're coming from- I feel like many parents treat their children like special snowflakes who deserve extra special treatment or maybe the rules don't apply to THEM, but in this case, I think it's a pure violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act- and it boils down to what @Muriel Schwenck said. Regardless, it's fucking nonsense, and they should get their heads out of their asses.
 
Then they heard a bunch of words they didn't understand, that perhaps made them feel uncomfortable, and rather than take the time to learn more and assess the situation, decided that their comfort was more important than...their selection criteria?

Bingo! My niece is on the Autism spectrum. And while I don't think she is a "Special Snowflake" I do think she deserves to be respected as much as any other child and if she won something, and they didn't let her do because she's Autistic? They'd have a hell of a law suit on their hands.

Liability my ass!! They don't know a thing about Autism and they freaked instead of educating themselves.
 
What's up @JackBurton? You disagree that I don't think my niece is special snowflake or that I believe she should be treated with the same respect any other child is? You disagreed with my post so explain yourself. Or are you just doing it because if you crapped on it you thought it would make you look bad towards special needs people? The things that make you go "hmmmmm".
 
The U.N. program made the decision, and the U.N. may not be subject to the ADA in the same way that other USA entities are. It would be interesting to find out. There is probably small print on their trip agreement that they can cancel a candidate at their discretion.
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Then they heard a bunch of words they didn't understand, that perhaps made them feel uncomfortable, and rather than take the time to learn more and assess the situation, decided that their comfort was more important than...their selection criteria?
With all the nasty things going on in the world, and all the bureaucratic and diplomatic power plays going on at the UN, does anyone seriously think the UN gives a damn what some high school students have to say about history and world events? It's not about the children, it's about sustaining the BUREAUCRACY! The whole trip is nothing but a public relations gambit, and they don't want to deal with cumbersome "special needs" people.
And now it backfired on them. You'd think the UN's PR department would be more in touch with the most politically correct trends.
 
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