Circus Staff 'Embarrassed' Mom Over Autistic Son's Behavior

A mother reported feeling "embarrassed" after being asked twice by staff to make her autistic son sit down during a circus performance. Kendra Hazlett and her five-year-old son Albie, who is non-verbal, were attending a show in Londonderry. Albie, who enjoys the circus lights and being ringside, began to "stim"—a self-stimulating behavior often seen in autistic individuals—which involves joyful movements and noises. Staff approached Kendra, requesting she have Albie "put in his seat," despite her attempts to explain his needs and that he was not causing a disturbance.

Feeling unable to prevent Albie's stimming and embarrassed by the attention, Kendra Hazlett and her son left the performance halfway through. She stated that expecting an autistic child to sit still when excited is "physically not possible." This incident contrasted with previous positive visits to the circus, where Albie loved the ringside view. Tom Duffy's Circus acknowledged the situation, stating their commitment to "reasonable adjustments" and audience safety. They noted they were unaware of Albie's disability beforehand and have since contacted Kendra to discuss the experience and improve customer experience, including autism staff training.