Family forced to move due to neighbours’ complaints
Being a parent is tough, let alone having to raise a child with special needs. Some real unsung heroes are parents of children on the autism spectrum, as they have to adjust their lives around their child’s unique needs and habits.
While there are many understanding souls in our communities, we still run into individuals who have yet to learn empathy towards their neighbours. This Shah Alam family with a son on the autism spectrum, for example, were forced to move after their neighbours filed noise complaints against them with their landlord.
Due to the flood of complaints received, the landlord decided not to renew the family’s tenancy.
Family with special needs child asks for more understanding
On 11th February 2022, Iman Wan Tuck Meng shared his frustrations in a post on his Facebook page called Adam’s Autism Family. He said that his family is being forced to move out of their rental home in Temasya Suria, Shah Alam as their landlord refused to renew their tenancy.
He is the father of 20-year-old Adam Wan Mun Yu, who has been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
According to him, their neighbours had filed multiple complaints throughout the year about Adam being ‘noisy’. Feeling pressured, the landlord was allegedly reluctant to continue on with the tenancy and requested for Adam’s family to move out by the end of February.
Image adapted from: Adam’s Autism Family
Iman further explained that this sudden eviction put them in a predicament, as they were only looking to move once their house is ready in a couple of years.
Left with no choice, he wrote that his family will be moving by the end of February instead.
He expressed his disappointment at how many still lack empathy and compassion towards individuals with autism. Consequently, his family now has to deal with hardship that resulted from their neighbours’ complaints.
“For the record, Adam is not noisy everyday, and even if he was, it’s never from dawn till dusk,” he wrote in the Facebook post. “I believe Allah has a better plan. Kita redha (We accept).”
Iman also explained that he decided to share this unfortunate incident on social media to shed light on how individuals have yet to truly accept people on the autism spectrum such as Adam into their communities. In a resolute statement, he affirmed that he would strive to work harder to raise awareness surrounding the topic.
He currently runs the Facebook account Adam’s Autism Family to share his family’s journey of living with an individual with special needs, as a way of raising awareness and acceptance.
Iman keeps the page active by uploading stories and videos of his family and son frequently. Through it, the family have open discussions about autism and the challenges they face, to help educate others and provide a support network for families living in similar situations.
Netizens also call for more understanding
Since its posting on Facebook, Iman’s Facebook post has garnered over 6,000 reactions, 500 comments and 285 shares. In the comment section, many sympathised with the family’s situation and left their well-wishes.
Image credit: Adam’s Autism Family
A commenter that goes by Autism Twin Mommy shared that she faces a similar issue with her own neighbours in the US, showing just how challenging it is for families with special needs children around the world.
Image credit: Adam’s Autism Family
In another comment, Netizen La Lah conveyed her sadness over the family’s hardship and voiced her support, saying, “This is very heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for what your family has to go through. I believe there’s a better home waiting for you somewhere and you will find it sooner than you expect. I believe in hidden blessings,” and shared blessings and support from Singapore.
Image credit: Adam’s Autism Family
Likewise, netizen Nurul Hidaya posted a wholesome comment, stating that she has been living next to an individual on the autism spectrum for the past 37 years, and does her best to make him happy by sharing festive foods and snacks. “I pray that one day you’ll find the best neighbour,” she wrote.
A little compassion and understanding goes a long way
Unfortunately, families living with autism still face significant lack of acceptance and discrimination from many who are oblivious towards their daily challenges.
We hope that this story will bring more awareness towards autism, and remind us all to be a little more understanding. Instead of passing judgement or staying silent, we should strive to show compassion, empathy and acceptance towards individuals on the spectrum, as well as their families.
The Smart Local Malaysia has reached out to Adam’s Autism Family, and will update this article when they get back to us.
Read more here:
- Elderly man becomes Grab driver to earn a living
- Therapist pleads for netizens to stop cyberbullying students
- Delivery rider helps elderly uncle in Kepong
Cover image adapted from: Adam’s Autism Family