"Children with Autism Are Not Ghosts"… A Parent's Plea Appears in Blue House National Petition

Petition posted on the 15th [Image source = Screenshot of the Blue House National Petition Internet Board]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The parents of an autistic child, who are suffering from indiscriminate slander and complaints from neighbors, have filed a petition on the Blue House National Petition Board.

On the 15th, a petition titled "Please Save the Family of an Autistic Child" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner stated that they live with their 9-year-old son who has autism in an apartment in Seo-gu, Incheon. They claimed that their misfortune began after moving into a newly built apartment in 2018.

They said, "Some residents on the residents-only internet community insulted my child by calling him 'a child who makes ghost sounds' and other derogatory terms," and added, "Some residents posted that since my child has autism and causes trouble to neighbors, they hope we move away quickly."

They continued, "Due to frequent noise complaints from the downstairs neighbors, we followed a specialist's prescription to put the child to sleep around 7 p.m. to avoid causing trouble," but said, "(However) I received a call that there was a noise complaint even though the child was sleeping. Feeling desperate and wronged, I went downstairs to ask, but was instead reported to the police."

They also expressed frustration, saying, "Afterwards, false information was spread on the residents' internet community, with posts claiming 'the child cries making ghost sounds in the morning, and the parents neglect it.'"

The petitioner appealed, "Our family is suffering from severe depression due to the slander and complaints from neighbors and is on the verge of collapse," and added, "Having an autistic child does not decrease the value of the apartment. Please make Korea a place where families with disabilities and non-disabled families can live together."

As of 5:30 p.m. on the 17th, 4,453 people have agreed to the petition.