is this discriminating against disabled children ?

[lisa1cares]

Hi My DD wanted to go to the towneley live event in burnley, this event is said to be family friendly etc etc so I go online to book the tickets and it says that carers go free so I thought great I can afford to take her as she is disabled but it seems that only carer's go free with disabled adults and not disabled children. I feel this is wrong in a big way, what is the difference between a disabled adult and a disabled child if they need a carer with them surely there is no difference at all. am I being all stressed for nothing ? or does this sound wrong to anyone else. The way I see it is if a family want to go to this event and need a carer to go along with them then why should they have to pay for a carer just because its a disabled child and not a disabled adult ??

[Al1son]

Maybe they feel that a child would need an adult with them anyway whether they had a disability or not.

[lisa1cares]

sure I understand the adult being needed anyway but but for my dd she needs 1-2-1 so that would mean my other children could not go to the event as I can't look after all of them and can't afford to have a carer go with me for my dd. If you see my point.

[coff33pot]

If they say carers go free then you should go free thats how I see it. I dont see the difference whether it be adult or child to be honest.

[MissKittyEliza]

Carers go free. Age should not be relevant. It's a bit like when you apply for Carers Allowance...... Yes, all children require care but, some disabled children need more input. A lot more hence, you are their csrer as well as parent. Could your dd attend and engage in the activities with you just at a safe distance, in a supervisory (parental) role? If not you are a Carer. Her Carer.

[unpa1dcar3r]

I would remind them of the disability discrimination act and also that you've been to lots of other places (name them if poss) where this hasn't been an issue.
It is discriminatory as whether it's a child or adult, if that person needs 'reasonable adjustment by the service provider' to enable them to access facilities then that's good enough.
Who did you speak to? Was it management? If not it's probably someone who don't know what they're on about and I'd go to management.

Under the Oct 2004 amendments to the disability act service providers are legally bound to enable service users to access their services. Whether this means a ramp/slope or just someone being there is irrelevent. It doesn't say 'but if they're a child it don't count'!

Very strange and I'd say a fair bit of ignorance to what disability means is involved here!

[starfishmummy]

Mmmm. I think this is a tricky one really. As Al1son says it may be because any child would need a parent with them. Also it is a concession; they don't actually have to do it for anyone, so not sure if DDA would apply.

[utah]

It would also depend on whether she can access the facilities and are the facilities for children. would a disabled adult only be going to spend time with family and not to access the facilities then that would explain the free carer. Most places rule of thumb is if your are using you pay if your disabilities mean you are unable to use then you dont.

[DeWe]

Can you pay for her as a disabled adult?

I see where they're coming from, as in a parent would come anyway, but I see your point too. If you phone them and explain that she needs 1-2-1 so will have to bring an extra carer then I think they should look on it as a case by case basis.

I've been surprise to find one council nearby gives dd2 reduced entry and me in free as a carer. She's completely independent of me, just an obvious physical disability, so it makes it cheaper to take her then not to. I suspect for her it's a bit of a sympathy vote from the person on the desk and a non-visible disabilty (which may well need more assistance) may well not get it as easily.

[Al1son]

Lisa your response makes perfect sense so I would suggest the same as other posters. Call them and explain that you will have to have a carer for her plus another adult to supervise the other children.That is considered and reasonable.

[bigbluebus]

We have visited many places with DD who is clearly visibly disabled, so we often get a concession for a free carer. However, I'm pretty sure that in some cases they have charged DD the adult price instead of the child price(in order to give us the free carer ticket) - but it has stilll worked out cheaper that way than not qualifying for a free carer ticket. We are starting to see now that concessions for carers/disabled people are becoming less attractive or in some cases disappearing altogether - just like blue badge parking concessions. Around here we have to pay for parking (with a blue badge) in all council run car parks as well as at hospitals. Ironically we could go into our local town and park for free on the road - but as DD is 'wheelchair bound' I drive a WAV with a rear access ramp, so can't park on street as someone will park too close behind me and I won't be able to get DD back in the car!!! So basically if you are very disabled around here, you pay for parking, but if you are less physically disabled then its free!!!! They thought that one through didn't they - not!

[unpa1dcar3r]

I cannot think of any time I've not had at least a concession. But most places I go are carers free.
A couple have asked how I can prove they're disabled (as they look perfectly 'normal') and I've offered politely to leave them with them for 10 mins while I nip off for a fag and a coffee and then let them tell me they're not disabled. Always does the trick lol.
And this is since my boys were tiny.