how is it not an FML? The OP is put into an uncomfortable position at her job because the parents of this kid are not willing to tell him it is inappropriate behavior. If you want to treat people with special needs fairly, then you need to treat them like everyone else. It's still an FML because now not only is the OP uncomfortable at work but the people who should be directly responsible for this child's actions are not taking responsibility and she's going to have to take it to the next step; which will most likely mean legal action which will be embarrassing, expensive, and uncomfortable for everyone.

Why should she talk to him? If she's at her job then she needs to be doing her job, not talking to a kid, and if she's not comfortable seing him or talking to him then she's in the right to want him to leave, not everyone wants or is prepared to deal with a mentally handicapped person.

So what if he's handicapped? He is disturbing her at her job and her job is not to be nice to him or talk to him or encourage his behavior. She is within her right to ask the kid's parents to not bring him to her workplace anymore (and should've done that in the first place). The fact that he's handicapped is not a free pass to do whatever he pleases without considering other people.

Yes true, however, it's still not right to give a handicapped person a hard time, it's not like they chose to be handicapped. I did say to talk to his parents, did I not? I see handicapped kids at work all the time, I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of how to deal with them. It's everybody's job to be nice to one another, she isn't the only exception. She has no right to be mean to him, because he has the same right to be mean back if she chose to be mean to him. She has the right to ask him to leave, but none the less, he does have a right to be there. She can always get a different job. She shouldn't encourage his behavior, but she is because she hasn't talked to his parents. Since she's not handicapped, she should also know better, and his parents should know better then allow him to take pictures. How do you think the downs mind works? Do you think they could pick up the memo right away that he has to consider other people? Because non-handicapped people can. All in all, both parties should have been more responsible in their choices.

How has she been giving him a hard time? How has she been mean to him? And you can't always get a different job, it's not that simple. Yes, all the people involved in the situation should be more responsible.

Very correct. Given that i am PHYSICALLY disabled, doesn't make it ok for me to run over people with my chair at the drop of a hat or act like an ass when I choose. some parent didn't let some kid know not to touch the wheelchair im in. The kid was disabled mentally and I told him to stop...the parent screamed at me and i just said, given his situation, he should still be reprimanded for things like this. Im so inconsiderate...blah. its actually a sign of respect if you let someone know something is wrong regardless if they are or aren't disabled. It shows they understand they are a person who should know right from wrong. Oh well, welcome to Earth.