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OGUNQUIT, Maine (WMTW) — What began as a zoning dispute over large metal roosters in Ogunquit, ME, has turned into an autism acceptance movement.
Dave and Sara LeBlanc own The Omelette Factory, directly next to their home. They would display several large roosters on their lawn because their autistic daughter, Pyper, loves them. They said the roosters help Pyper regulate her emotions before going to school.
However, in April, they were fined because the town said the roosters were advertisements for the restaurant.
The family appealed and won a variance, allowing them to have two roosters for Pyper for disability access. The two roosters are now connected to the house by a chain link, but Sara LeBlanc said the family was fined again because the roosters needed to be bolted down to create a physical railing.
“We got another fine, a $500 fine, and we’re told we had to take them down immediately. And I said, I’m not doing that. So here they still stand.”
LeBlanc said she doesn’t know where the confrontation with the town will go, but the community has been stepping up to “foster” the roosters.
“We decided since Pyper started with us as a foster kiddo, we’d start fostering out of roosters,” LeBlanc said.
Wheels N Waves, a business just down the road, is fostering a rooster called “roostermon.”
“They should be able to have these things out in front of their house,” said owner Bob Morrell. “If that helps their daughter transition with where she is, you know, it seems pretty simple to us.”
Now, the movement has spread further than Maine.
Renee Savage taught in the area for over 30 years before moving to Florida but follows Maine news. She says she read about Pyper and the autism awareness angle, and wanted to get involved to advocate for students.
“I support kids with autism, and adults with autism, and I thought this was a great way to get it out there, not only in Wells but communities outside of Wells and Ogunquit.”
The family says they want to capitalize on the momentum this has caused in raising awareness for autism, and plan to start a nonprofit.
“What really hits Dave and I close to home is how many people that are coming in with children that have disabilities,” said LeBlanc, saying people have been telling her, ‘You need to stick with it. Nobody gets this much attention around this. Please stick with it for all the kids. Please continue to be that voice.'”
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