Updated: May 17, 2017
Originally Published: Aug. 28, 2016
We dedicated ourselves to nurturing independence in our son, who is on the autism spectrum, particularly regarding everyday tasks. When he finally showed progress with toilet training, we thought we were celebrating a significant victory. We were overjoyed, and our laundry appliances probably felt a sense of relief too! We were singing praises to our success.
But we were naive.
There was one critical obstacle we had yet to conquer. We consulted our son’s educators, therapists, and other parents, but the issue lingered. My plan of “I’ll be around forever” wasn’t materializing, so it was time to confront what we dubbed… The Hand Dryer of Doom (cue ominous music).
In our quest to create a greener world for future generations, technology gifted us with hand dryers for public restrooms. However, these devices are equipped with motors that emit sounds akin to the anguished cries of the damned.
Simply advising my son, “Just dry your hands on your pants,” proved ineffective. After witnessing a stranger activate one of those machines, he became utterly terrified at the mere sight of them. As he grew older, he began using the men’s restroom independently, with me stationed at the door, loudly assuring everyone inside, “Mom is right here. Call if you need anything!” Trust me, I have no issue stepping in if necessary.
So what eventually worked? A hair dryer. Yes, you read that right. A clever teacher, Mrs. Thompson, introduced the idea at school, using a hair dryer to help the children dry their hands after washing up. While my son didn’t embrace it wholeheartedly, he learned to tolerate it. That was all I could ask for. When she sent me a photo from a school outing, showing him using it, I burst into tears—full-on ugly crying.
Miracles can occur, even in the restroom.
But just when I thought we had conquered the hand dryer fear, I encountered this beast in a movie theater restroom.
“Hey, her autistic kid finally got over the fear of the hand dryer. Let’s ramp it up!”
Are you serious? This contraption looks like something out of a low-budget sci-fi film. I struggled to help him get comfortable with the previous model, and now I had to introduce him to this new monstrosity? No way. I was ready to channel my inner “teenage girl sipping a pumpkin spice latte” and just let him have damp hands. Sure, it might make his fries soggy, but he would manage.
I noticed this device in the restroom and saw that none of the other women were using it either. They opted for paper towels, happily sacrificing trees rather than confronting this noisy gadget. Clearly, even neurotypical individuals have their limits when it comes to social responsibility.
Some things are beyond repair, like this new hand dryer. I’d tell it to “blow me” if I weren’t so utterly terrified of it.
This article was originally published on Aug. 28, 2016.