To think that society is far more accepting of disability discrimination than it likes to admit?

[WannaBe]

Last week a blind couple from the UK were refused to be allowed to go on the cruise they had booked, even though the company had been previously aware of their visual impairment. They travelled independently to Venice to board the boat, arrived at the boat and were told they wouldn't be allowed to travel.

Since then the company has claimed they had a medical assessment and were deemed unfit to travel (this didn't happen.)

And quite aside from the fact that the company in question (who I won't name here at the moment) have been very quiet on the matter, what has shocked me most is the fact that overwhelmingly the response has been "well, we don't know all the details. There must be more to it. After all, being blind could be a safety risk."

Cruises are recommended as excellent options for people with VI who wish to travel independently.


It seems that we are nowhere near a society which is accepting of disabilities and where people are very quick to justify rather than condemn blatant discrimination.

[WorraLiberty]

I agree and there are a ridiculous amount of business owners who still think it's ok to refuse guide dogs.

[BeyondBeyondBeyondBeyondBeyond]

Big problems with steps, as was demonstrated in a thread here recently.

Before I was ill and would have needed them myself, my (former) boss said that it was too expensive to justify fitting a ramp to the pre 1900's building we called an office. So that was a whole section of society excluded from the jobs we were filling!!

[WannaBe]

Yes worra the number of guide dog access refusals is actually on the increase.

Yep, agree steps are a nightmare if you're mobility impaired and need other access.

The cruise refusal is actually the worst I've ever heard of in terms of an access refusal. They arrived at the boat, were then told they wouldn't be allowed to travel but then left for two hours while the crew went away and had a discussion. They then came back and were taken on an orientation of the ship "to see how we can assist you,". . And then told they would be flown home with a nurse for their own safety. I think at that point he told them no nurse would be required (but not so politely afaik.)

[LurkingHusband]

and we're going backwards

How many places claim to be "accessible" right up to the point where MrsLH in her wheelchair can't get over the 4" step they forgot about. Or to the disabled loo they store the high chairs in front of.

But then most people just never give it a thought.

[steff13]

Is there an article about this? I googled it and couldn't find anything current.

[MrsJayy]

I actually dont think much has changed in the 40odd years I have been alive just the wording is different wrapped in concern and politeness i saw that on facebook Last week its a bloody disgrace. I was on holiday recently and i use a wheelchair for distance I overheard 2 women tutting and whispering about me getting out my chair to sit in a cafe seat apparently i was cheating

[ToastDemon]

I belong to a shit parking type group on Facebook. The number of people who make excuses for people without a badge parking in disabled bays is disgusting.
They don't get it and they don't seem to want to get it.

[NeedACleverNN]

I think in some cases, there was never an improvement in the first place.

The amount of shops that are not wheelchair accessible and they have no intention of correcting that either.

There is actually a bus company in my town that does not allow wheelchairs on most of their buses. Out of their entire fleet (in this town) there are perhaps two that accessible. The rest have steps, a bar in the middle and no place to park your wheelchair. If you needed to use it, tough shit. You will have to call a taxi.

Makes me cross to see it even though I don't even use a wheelchair!

[ABloodyDifficultWoman]

Do you have a link to this story OP because I too can't find anything by Googling?

[LurkingHusband]

I belong to a shit parking type group on Facebook. The number of people who make excuses for people without a badge parking in disabled bays is disgusting.

You need LHs law of reduction. If they really cared. They'd do something directed at those that can do something - our MPs.

Just repeat it in your head when you hear them making excuses.

They don't get it and they don't seem to want to get it

You see - it works As a society we'll happily piss more money away on wars in a year than have been spent on adaptations in a generation.

Seems we're better at making people disabled than helping them.

[Lurkedforever1]

Yanbu. I think in cases like this it's also down to the fact there is a presumption that any disability must make the person incapable of any form of independence, and a complete disregard for the fact they are just as entitled to make independent decisions as well as anyone else.

[MajesticSeaFlapFlap]

My 13 year old son has recently started using a wheelchair.
I really cannot belive how many accessible places are not accessible and how patronising and condescending people are to him now.

[MrsJayy]

Somebody shared it on my facebook I will see if i can find it

[WannaBe]

The couple in question will be featured on "in touch" on radio 4 tonight at 9 PM.

Until now they had not directly approached the media. Because they wanted to go down the legal route first, although they had shared their details on Twitter/Facebook etc. The company in question was p&o cruises.

[marsybum]

I've twice this week taken pictures of company vehicles parked in disabled bays, one when I tweeted them got the engineer to move it and apologised said they would speak to all the staff. The other said I was lying and trying to damage their business because it didn't matter as there were other empty spaces. I've added the picture that shows I wasnt lying....

[MrsJayy]

Lurkedforever you are right it is assuming people cant make a decision to travel safely and independently so the company banns them for their own good obviously.

[Samcro]

Wannabee that is shocking
My freind and her family cruise a lot, as it is the ideal holiday for them with their very severely disabled adult child, they have never had any problems,
Think naming and shaming is needed.
I think things are getting worse, lot of it is education of staff that is needed, so they dont tell a person in a wheelchair taht they can use a table in a restaurant.. That has to be accessed by steps(that happened to us)
Also no things like bus wheelchair spaces, and disabled toilets have been taken over by parents.. It can only get worse when the next generation grow up.

[Mummyme1987]

I agree. Getting worse. Shops such as Thorntons not even trying to sort access.

[Samcro]

Oh and the opticians that have new mirrors put in.. That are too high for a person in a wheelchair

[JudyCoolibar]

Certainly. Witness the fact that whenever there's a thread on here about buggies in wheelchair spaces on buses, you will always get people whinging on about how it's not fair they they should be expected to fold their buggy or disturb their PFB in order to allow someone in wheelchair on the bus.

[BeyondBeyondBeyondBeyondBeyond]

My sister came in an 'accessible' toilet with me yesterday. Once me+chair were in, she said "wow, there isn't much room in here is there?". Umm, nope, and this is standard. Stick it in the smallest possible space that can be legally called an accessible toilet, bugger how useful it actually is.

[Brekekekex]

I saw this story earlier, about a man with a guide dog being refused entry. Apparently he didn't need the dog "because he was with his family"

[straightouttacompton]

I think society is far more accepting of all forms of discrimination than it would like to think.

[WannaBe]

Brekekekex there was a similar incident last year where a GDO was refused access at silverstone.

Have to say that I wouldn't personally take my dog to a race track, but that should be the owner's call to make not the company's.

[Brekekekex]

WannaBe - I'm not VI so I don't know what is/isn't appropriate for a guide dog, but I'd do the GDO the courtesy of assuming that they did know! The article made me angry because it's so damn infantilising. How dare they tell this man what is or isn't suitable for his disability? How do they think they know better than he does?