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Autistic Boy Was Depressed After Local Blockbuster Closed Down, So His Parents Recreated It At Home
Autistic Boy Was Depressed After Local Blockbuster Closed Down, So His Parents Recreated It At Home
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Autistic Boy Was Depressed After Local Blockbuster Closed Down, So His Parents Recreated It At Home

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When his autistic son’s favorite video store, Blockbuster, announced they were closing down, this South Texas dad came up with the perfect idea to recreate the shop at home. “My autistic brother was sad that Blockbuster was closing down,” Javier Zuniga, the autistic man’s sibling, wrote on Twitter. “So my parents made a mini one at home for him!”

The emotional moment was captured in pictures and the post went viral. It got more than 94,000 likes in less than two days with people commenting it was ‘parenting done right’.

Javier said that while his brother didn’t say anything, he was laughing with joy, smiling, and clapping hands. The parents made sure that their 20-year-old son’s favorite movies were there – including Veggie Tales, Rugrats, Barney and Elmo titles.

Blockbuster first opened back in 1985. By 1989, it had become so popular that a new store was opening every 17 hours, as recorded by the New York Post. According to the same source, due to the rise of services like Netflix, there are now only 12 Blockbuster Video shops left in America – nine in Alaska and three in Texas. And, of course, one personal ‘Blockbuster’ at Javier Zuniga’s brother’s home.

More info: Twitter (h/t)

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    An autistic son’s favorite video store, Blockbuster, announced they were closing down…

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    So this South Texas dad came up with the perfect idea to recreate the shop at home

    The emotional moment was captured in pictures, getting more than 94,000 likes in less than two days

    The guy was left speechless, but he was laughing with joy, smiling, and clapping hands

    The Internet reacted:

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    Elizabeth

    Elizabeth

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Elizabeth

    Elizabeth

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fantastic! Just imagine how much they went out of their way to make their son so happy.

    Michel M. Prins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Big respect towards the parents! I love it! However, I can also very much relate to the son. Renting a movie used to be a very special thing. So it's great to hear that the parents went out of their way to make this possible :)

    boredhuman
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And a adult section for paps.

    Molly Block
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree! Mom and Dad need their own *special selections, hahaha. Every healthy marriage can benefit from that!

    Load More Replies...
    lemontzz aide
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this goes well beyond good parenting skills! these folks have done something very profound for their child - they "cared," his feelings mattered.

    George Panagopoulos
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    watch "life animated" . one of the most amazing docs on autistic behaviour and how many things we the" normal" people take as granted.Also lot of crying!

    Jermaine Mintuck
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I gunna cry like a 2 year old brat-only in joy at this.SO Beautiful. If they built something like a favorite RESTAURANT sim like this idea at home because of things, I would have flipped O.U.T.

    Ja Legge
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. I love this!!! He got awsum folks!!!

    Simon Kwan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love this so much! Amazing parents

    Amanda Bradley
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ***boy with autism. Please use person first language!

    Load More Comments
    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fantastic! Just imagine how much they went out of their way to make their son so happy.

    Michel M. Prins
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Big respect towards the parents! I love it! However, I can also very much relate to the son. Renting a movie used to be a very special thing. So it's great to hear that the parents went out of their way to make this possible :)

    boredhuman
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And a adult section for paps.

    Molly Block
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree! Mom and Dad need their own *special selections, hahaha. Every healthy marriage can benefit from that!

    Load More Replies...
    lemontzz aide
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this goes well beyond good parenting skills! these folks have done something very profound for their child - they "cared," his feelings mattered.

    George Panagopoulos
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    watch "life animated" . one of the most amazing docs on autistic behaviour and how many things we the" normal" people take as granted.Also lot of crying!

    Jermaine Mintuck
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I gunna cry like a 2 year old brat-only in joy at this.SO Beautiful. If they built something like a favorite RESTAURANT sim like this idea at home because of things, I would have flipped O.U.T.

    Ja Legge
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. I love this!!! He got awsum folks!!!

    Simon Kwan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love this so much! Amazing parents

    Amanda Bradley
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ***boy with autism. Please use person first language!

    Load More Comments
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