So,
I am a little pissed.
Today I was on my way to the gym to get some training done before an errand, and I was met with an autistic guy on the train that was acting out a
bit.
He was grabbing at people, poking, getting in their face, running around and generally being unkept. Most thought nothing of it, since as I described
he was VERY autistic.
Then it dawned on me, NO ONE was his care provider, NO ONE was there with him.
I decided to skip the gym and see where he got off, thinking that maybe someone was picking him up. I wanted to ask them to get it through to him that
going in between train cars while in motion is dangerous.
We got to the last stop of the one train in the BX, and he jumps onto a south bound train. He was lost and jumping on trains at random.
So I follow and call the cops.
I explain the situation, that he has an autistic wrist band, a medical identifyer of sorts and that he is lost.
Half of manhattan later, no cops. I call again, tell them which car we are in, the stop we are at and our direction.....now several stops later after
going through MAJOR stations that have everything from swat to all types of STATIONED medical personel, NOTHING.
The guy jumps on another train heading towards brooklyn.
Now I am really worried. I follow and call again and update the information.
It was like talking to a wall....911 was absolutely useless and brain dead, all operators.
I manage to get a glimpse of his medical ID, so now I give them his name, and 2 contact phone numbers.
Then he jumps off that train and starts walking REALLY close to the edge of the platform with on coming trains, I follow and got too close, forgot to
smile like before to reassure him I was his friend and as I wanted to avoid, I freaked him out. I at this point was with him for over an hour, keeping
my distance but still he was aware that I was there for him.
So he ran from me.
I shadowed him as I was before, now trying to avoid his direct line of sight, but he must have felt my presence and ran even faster just as I
positioned myself behind a pillar to continue watching him.
I lost him. Mission failed.
I am pissed, 911 had AMPLE time and opportunity to get this guy home. They dropped the ball.
I ended up calling those numbers on his ID, and eventually spoke to his dad after leaving a message... "yeah, oh, well, he will make it home, he has
done this before"
Excuse me? Your autistic son is lost in NYC and you are playing damage control? Really?
So 911 FINALLY called you and you played it off probably so YOU dont get in trouble, and then make sure I will drop it. I know what he was doing, I am
not an idiot.
WTF
911 Was eventually helpful, in taking down the information the LAST TIME I called after losing him, after I got mad and demanded they do something to
help this lost autistic guy get home....Had to get mad before they linked the calls, made a case file and dispatched god knows who....after over an
hour of updates , countless stations and hubs and knowing EXACTLY where he was. I cant even believe it. Asshats.
What a crap system. Lost faith today in people and ESPECIALLY in 911.
This guy would eventually get beat up by a drunk person or an asshole. I would get close when he grabbed at people and they seemed to react angrily.
Made it aware he was handicapped and not to react any which way beyond a F-ing smile.... Kept him safe as much as I could.
I hope he makes it home. And also that the city takes him from his lousy parents. His dad called me about an hour ago, 9pm, and he wasnt home....this
was hours later.
He must still be out there jumping on random trains, grabbing people and getting lucky that they just think he is crazy or something.
NYC subways get dangerous at night in certain areas. I have a knot in my stomach thinking about him getting beat up by some assholes looking for
laughs or just being high or drunk.
Our society doesnt care about the mentally ill.
If I would have said "bomb", swat would have rolled in at the next stop. Too bad an autistic person in danger doesnt warrant using our resources.
/end rant.
edit on 8 15 2016 by tadaman because: (no reason given)