Why does Best Buy turn off their demo games when I bring in my child with autism?

Question

OK, almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday I work with a 12-year old autistic child. If he's good during the day, I bring him to Best Buy for about a half-hour to play their demo Nintendo Wii. He is usually very good in the store but occasionally takes the controller from another kid, I explain to him that it's wrong and why and usually he will then wait his turn and everything will be good. He has only had a tantrum once in the store. Well everything was good until about 2 weeks ago and the demo game wasn't on, it was like the TV was turned off or the Wii was disconnected. It's been like that when we walk in for the past 2 weeks. But the only thing is, when I go alone, it's on and working every time. When I bring the autistic child, it's always "broken". Do you think they turn it off when they see us walk into the store or when they know we're coming? We always come at the same time every day and it's not possible to change the times we come.

Answer 1

This is difficult for me to answer because I am on a life-long boycott of Best Buy due to a different company policy.

However, in your case, I would make an appointment with the manager to discuss your situation and see if they would allow you to continue bringing the child for reward time. Something happened about 2 weeks ago. Perhaps a new corporate policy regarding demo games was handed down. Or the store got a new manager. Or a customer complained. You could ask about that directly.

If the manager is not willing to allow you to continue bringing in your student, it would be a good idea to ask why, so that you know if it is the company policy regarding use of the demo games (do they limit other customers who may come in as frequently as you do?) or if it is because of the autistic-type behaviors of the child?

Where do you work with this boy during the day? Can you vary the rewards? (I do understand that routine is part of autism). Can you provide a reward at the location where you work with him the rest of the day? Can you take him on other field trips to other stores or public places to practice skills you have been working on?

Answer 2

because they are evil neurotypicals

Answer 3

Being that you come at the same time I think there is a good chance they are turning it off on purpose. You can look at it two ways. 1. is that the purpose of demo games is for people to test out games or systems to determine if they want to buy it. They don't want a non-buyer using the system for half an hour and are trying to avoid a confrontation. Obviously that buying is not your purpose... and maybe you need to find another rewarding activity.

2. is that they are discriminating against the child because he has an obvious difference that they are not comfortable with or feel their shoppers are not comfortable with. They likely don't understand the importance of community outings, motivational rewards and other things that you are working very hard to accomplish with this child. In which case your course of action should be to call a manager and talk to them and explain to them the important of supporting individuals in the community towards a more independent and rewarding quality of life.

I guess it all depends on what you want to attribute their motives to, but it is likely not just a coincidence if this pattern is consistently repeated it is a choice of some kind.

Answer 4

You need to set up a meeting with store management and discuss what you are doing and why.  Most stores will willingly accommodate outings of this nature because they want to help those with disabilities.  

If the machine is off when you come in with the child, it could be that the sales staff has not informed the management of what you are doing and are taking it upon themselves to shut off the game.  The reason for this may be because the child does grab the controller on occasion and they are afraid he will damage it.  If that happens, they are out the cost of a controller.  I know that sounds rather petty, but if something does get damaged the sales staff has to explain how it happened and they may be unwilling to take the responsibility for that.  An arrangement with the management will cover such things.

If the store will not allow you to come in and play the game, why can't you use your own Wii system as a reinforcer where you work with the child? You can't take him to your home, but you can bring the system to him.  It may not be a public outing, but he will still get the opportunity to play the game.  You can play with the child for half an hour then go out for ice cream or a special treat, which will be in a public place and provide opportunities for teaching.

Answer 5

That Is discrimination, If its ok for other children to play on it the autistic child should be allowed to play on it too! video games normally calm autistic an adhd children  down,basically i would be really immature by letting my adhd child lose in the store and when they complain say well u shud hav had the games on...

Hahaha that wuld stik it rite up their a r s e s...

Answer 6

It does sound mildly suspicious but it may be nothing. I would wait it out a bit more to see if it keeps up.

If you really feel that they are purposfully turning the game off, ask the manager about it to see if there is a specific reason.

But of course, like others said, it's not the stores resopsibility to have the game on.

Answer 7

I really don't think its the store's responsibility to supply your reward, autistic child or not.  Like someone else said, it's to try it out for buying, not for you to use every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  If you've made a habit of this, as it seems you have, they probably realize you have no intentions of buying the game system.  While I don't really see any harm in the store allowing the kid to play with it, I would sure be embarrassed to keep bringing a kid (any kid) into a store like clockwork just to play the video games.  Maybe its time to come up with another reward for him.

Answer 8

Most likely "they" have in thier mind that it will get broken if he gets playing with it. I would go some time when hes not with you and ask for a manager. Explain that you use this as a reinforcer and a training to to deal with things in public and ask him if it is okay for this to be done. Your sorta giving them the opp to help him. If they say "welll we rather would not" ask why? Then when you go in watch and see if there are kids playing it for the same amount of time so if he uses that as an excuse. This way you know if he is discrimanating.  It may also just be whoever tha manager is at the time. they may have problems with their own employees playing on time... I would def ask. I think it is a great tool for him your combining many things with a positive enforcer at the same time. Its nice to see someone do this.