In The Politics of Autism, I write about the everyday struggles facing autistic people and their families -- including casual prejudice against disabled people.
Blair Anthony Robertson reports at the Sacramento Bee on "Special Ed's Brewery" in Galt, CA, whose owners have apologized for the name.
“My husband is getting death threats on his phone,” co-owner Cheryl Mason said. “The situation is not funny at all.”
Mason said she and her husband, Edward, have reported the threats to police. The name and related themes tied to the business – including the slogan “Take the short bus to special beer” and “’tard tested, ’tard approved” – touched off a firestorm of complaints, vitriol and calls for a boycott on Facebook and Twitter. The business also promoted a proposed beer, Back of the Bus Brown Ale, that appears to refer to Jim Crow-era segregation.
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Tricia Bowden, a Galt resident who had called for a boycott of the business, said she was still hoping to meet with Edward Mason before moving forward. He had agreed to meet with her at 11 a.m. Tuesday but called it off, she said. Bowden’s 22-year-old daughter, Kristina, has autism.
“I’m really embarrassed. I raised my children in Galt. The special education community here is fabulous. My daughter had a wonderful high school experience. This doesn’t represent us, and hopefully it doesn’t represent Ed,” Bowden said.
When told of the death threats, Bowden added, “That’s very unfortunate and sad that people would stoop to that – adding hate to ignorance.”
