I was terrified after parent branded me Hagrid in a Xmas Card & demanded me & my ‘dumb, smelly’ disabled son move towns
A TERRIFIED mum claims ‘another parent at school’ sent her a poison pen Christmas card – branding her ‘Hagrid’ and demanding she and her ‘dumb’ disabled son move towns.
Jade Lloyd was left saddened when she opened what she thought was her first festive card last week [Dec 10th] – only for it to be a ‘congratulations’ card filled with abuse towards her autistic son.
The card contains derogatory language aimed at her seven-year-old son, Harrison, referring to him as ‘smelly’ and ‘dumb’ and warns Jade ‘not to bring that thing back in the New Year’.
The note further refers to Jade, her husband and two children as the ‘Addams family’ and says the family would be better off relocating to a cave.
The full note reads: ‘Congratulation [sic] Hagrid on having the smellest [sic] dumbest p****e at school. You and the rest of the Adams [sic] Family must be very proud.
‘Please don’t bring that thing back in the New Year. You and your family might be better moving to Jaywick or a cave. Signed the whole school.’
Jade, who lives in Basildon, Essex, said Harrison is pre-verbal autistic and hasn’t had any altercations or incidents with fellow pupils at school.
The 35-year-old insists she’s a non-confrontational person who hasn’t experienced any conflict with any other parent from the school, leaving her confused who could be the anonymous writer.
However she says most of those she has shown it to believe it to have come from another parent at son’s school.
The stay-at-home mum said she immediately reported the card to the police and school – but has been left ‘looking over her shoulder’ and lives in fear that more vile correspondence may arrive in the post.
Jade said: “I thought it was my first Christmas card then went into the kitchen and opened it up.
“As I was reading it, I thought this can’t be for me, it must be sent to the wrong person.
“But then I read it properly and sent it to my friend and she was disgusted. Then it sunk in properly that it was about me and Harrison. I was in complete disbelief.
“I just couldn’t understand how someone could be so horrible, especially to a disabled child.
“I don’t understand where that could’ve come from. The main thing that got me was when they called Harrison a ‘thing’. To be labelled as Hagrid and the Addams family was just horrible.
“Someone has gone out their way to buy that card, write those vile words and send that to my family right before Christmas. There’s no rational explanation for this card.
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls.
Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people’s feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations.
When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead.
They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals.
Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress.
High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder.
“I can’t help but think who has built that much resentment towards my child to feel the need to send that card? Harrison is lovely and so friendly. He’s been at the school for five years.”
Jade believes the card may have come from another parent from the school, but said there hasn’t been any specific incidents to explain the malicious note.
Jade said: “Most people think it’s from another parent. The handwriting is too good to be from a child.
“As far as I’m aware, I haven’t upset anybody. I’m really not one for having confrontation, I don’t like confrontation.
“I don’t have problems with anybody so for this to then come is completely out of the blue for me because there’s no context behind it.
“There hasn’t been anything that’s happened. My son is pre-verbal autistic. He essentially has the mindset of a two-year-old so he’s very young in himself.
“He’s always with an adult at school. There’s been no incidents with other children. It just makes no sense where this would’ve come from.
“I don’t understand why I would’ve received this, it’s horrible, and right before Christmas.”
Jade doesn’t believe she’ll discover the true identity of the card’s author, but fears more hate mail may come in the post.
Jade said: “I wish I could find out who it is but I don’t think I’m going to. There’s no way of really tracing the card. I’ve told the school and the deputy head was horrified.
“I keep thinking no this can’t be for me but it’s got my address on it. It makes me feel very uneasy that they know my address.
“I’ve been looking over my shoulder a bit. They could easily send me another card or threat. I don’t know what this person is capable of.
“I’m nervous when the post comes now. I just want to know why. Why send that to my extremely vulnerable child who can’t defend themselves?”
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We received a report on 11 December relating to a card containing an abusive and offensive message. If you have any information please report it online.”