Well I've had no reply to my email so now I need to file a complain with the discriminations ombudsman. Is this ok for the 'what's the issue' box of the form, my head is all over the place and I'm struggling to get my thoughts together:
I started SFI in XXXXXXX in October 2015. The SFI classes are on the first floor. There is a lift which is locked and requires a key to access.
I have autism and mobility problems and use a rollator. My teacher arranged to meet me at the lift to unlock it so that I could get to class. She was going to do this until a key was sorted out for me and I could access the lift myself. I thought this would take a couple of days.
Unfortunately the caretaker said I cannot have a key as I'm a student and only staff can have one. I thought this could not be right. I have a disability and this is degrading as it takes away my independence and means I do not have the same access as the rest of my class. I have to meet my teacher at a fixed time and cannot leave if she is not around.
Because of my autism I currently only go for the second half of the morning. I receive a lot of help and support from Habilitering and following their advice my plan is to gradually increase my time as I feel able. Except I can't because my access is blocked. On days when I feel more capable I cannot arrive earlier and quietly take my place and join in. I'd have to somehow get my teacher out of class to let me in which would disrupt the whole class drawing attention to me and highlighting my difference. It's not right that I should be put in that position.
My teacher agreed that this is not good and said she would inform her boss, the head of SFI, who would sort it out and this would take a couple of weeks.
On the 18th November 2015 I arrived at the arranged time and nobody came to collect me. I waited by the lift until approximately 20 minutes after the start of my lesson. I'd been forgotten. Eventually one of the cleaners came to use the lift and opened it for me. I felt awful. I felt marginalised and humiliated. I was so upset that I thought enough was enough, this needs to be resolved now. So on 19th I emailed the head of the gymnasiet directly explaining the situation, how it made me feel and asking that this discrimination stops. He has not bothered to reply to me but my teacher has since told me that he has now confirmed that I cannot have a key for the lift so must continue with the current arrangement.
I believe this is discrimination. I am only in this position because of my disability. I do not have equal access to my lessons as the rest of my class and my education is suffering as a result.