The mother of a boy with autism has credited a Universal Orlando theme park employee with saving the day when her son had an 'autistic meltdown' after a ride broke.
Lenore Koppelman, of New York City, took to Facebook to recommend the Universal Orlando Resort while sharing a touching story about how several of theme park employees went above and beyond to make her nine-year-old son, Ralph, comfortable while he was there on vacation.
On May 28, Lenore wrote in a post that has now gone viral, that she took Ralph — who she described as being 'awesomely autistic' — to the resort for the first time that day and that he was 'EXTREMELY excited' to go on the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at the resort's Islands of Adventure.
Mom Lenore Koppelman took to Facebook to praise Universal Orlando employee Jennifer Whelchel (in purple) who helped soothe her son, Ralph (in green), while he was in the midst of an 'autistic meltdown' after an anticipated ride broke down
Lenore noted that they had saved the ride for last, as it was closest to the exit, and that Ralph had been 'SO patient for SO long' while waiting for 'the pinnacle of his day.'
When they finally got to the Spider-Man ride, Lenore wrote that Ralph was given his handicap-access tickets, allowing him to spend the ride's 15 minute wait time in a 'more bearable' environment for him than standing on line.
During that time, 'The anticipation was driving him wild! But he did his very best to regulate it with the tools he has been given over the years by his teachers and therapy team at his special needs school back home,' Lenore wrote.
After their wait time ended, Lenore, her husband and Ralph returned to the ride, with Ralph 'leaping for joy.'
Things started to go pear-shaped, however, right before as the family was about to board their ride vehicle.
They were informed that the ride had broken down and they, and everyone else, was asked to exit the attraction.
'Ralph, understandably, lost it. (Wouldn't you?),' Lenore wrote. 'My husband and I know the signs. We could see it coming, like an oncoming train. And yet we couldn't dodge out of the way. There was nowhere else to go. The autistic meltdown was GOING to HAPPEN. And happen it DID.'
Lenore said that Whelchel talked with her son, told him it was OK to be upset and to take as much time as he needed, while telling onlookers to keep moving when they stopped to stare
Nine-year-old Ralph (in green) eventually calmed down and was taken to the ride's store, where Whelchel offered to buy him anything he wanted up to $50, but all the child asked for was a small notebook and an ID tag with his name on it
Lenore (with Ralph and her husband) asked Whelchel how she knew what to do to help Ralph and Whelchel revealed that Universal theme park employees receive special training on how to help visitors with special needs
Lenore's story about how Whelchel helped Ralph (pictured) quickly went viral
'Ralph collapsed onto the floor while crowds of people were attempting to exit the ride and the gift shop attached to it. He began sobbing, screaming, rocking, hyperventilating, and truly struggling to breathe,' Lenore wrote, describing Ralph's behavior.
Earlier in the post, Lenore had noted that 'autistic meltdowns' were not temper tantrums, as many people assume, but 'a cry for help,' a way for her son to show that he is scared, overwhelmed and unable to monitor and regulate his emotions.
It was while Lenore was attempting to get Ralph to stand up so that he wouldn't get stepped on by exiting ride-goers, that a Universal theme park employee called Jen 'RUSHED over' and told Lenore to let Ralph stay on the ground 'if that's where he needed to be.'
Then, Lenore wrote, Jen 'got down on the floor WITH HIM. She rested next to him while he cried his heart out, and she helped him breathe again. She spoke to him so calmly, and while he screamed and sobbed, she gently kept encouraging him to let it all out.'
As this was happening, Lenore wrote that Jen told people to walk around them, instead of stopping and staring at them on the floor.
Jen
