KC Reporter

An Instagram post from March highlighted a Kansas City restaurant’s notable response to a situation involving a mother and her young son, drawing significant online attention with thousands of likes and shares.

The caption of the post partially stated, “This is what inclusion and acceptance look like. @mannyskc didn’t just accommodate this Autistic child and family… They made them feel wanted.”

Niki Hartrum, the mother in question, recounted the incident. Her son had an episode at Manny’s restaurant and cleared their table when the food arrived. After she took her son outside, staff at the restaurant reportedly acted swiftly, cleaning up the mess, remaking the food, and inviting the family to return, even offering food to go.

“So there is autism awareness, and then there is autism acceptance. And you’ll hear those two different words,” Hartrum stated. “So, I think awareness has to happen, and I think we’re still at that awareness level, but to really be accepting is what that restaurant did.”

Children’s Mercy Hospital, which operates an autism clinic, provided insights upon being contacted for comment. Autism is described as a “spectrum” because it can manifest differently for each individual.

“The reason we talk about autism as a spectrum is because it really can look different for every child and adult, and even from setting to setting," explained Cy Nadler, PhD, director of the clinic and licensed child psychologist. “And kids grow and change over time, too, and so some kids will have more trouble in public environments that are noisy and bright and chaotic and different from their routines. Other kids may thrive there. And so, it’s really about making sure that every kid or individual has the support they need to be successful."

Children’s Mercy provides many resources, including assistance for families with newly diagnosed children.

For the complete story, see KSHB 41.