‘Someone to watch out for him’

I read this letter several times before responding, and I shared it with friends, who are all of the same opinion as me. Why is Zach walking around town on his own? Is this an attempt to “normalize” him? He is disabled, he has Down Syndrome, and therefore can not make the choices or have the understanding that people, who are not disabled, can.

The community is not responsible for the safety of Zach. His mother is. She is choosing to allow him to walk around the community unsupervised and alone.

The risks for him are greater than being harassed by the teenagers in the park. He is not everyone’s friend or the kids in the park would not be bothering him. Why doesn’t he have a buddy with him? Someone who can watch out for him, and make sure that he is not put in harm’s way.

And if the teenagers in Stanley-Deming Park are a problem then Zach shouldn’t be in the park alone. And this applies to all children, not just to Zach.

A bully is a bully and anyone that a bully can bully they will.

But Zach’s mother can and should make sure that Zach is safe and not out walking through town or the park alone. She is responsible for his safety first. Unfortunately not everyone is nice, not everyone has empathy, not everyone cares. That’s just how it is in the world, and that’s why a child like Zach needs someone to watch out for him.

Susan McEnerney-Brasier
Warwick