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.

Mine too (poor proprioception). I just crash though or ideally try to stay very far from edges and people - I'm too stubborn, I hate not being 'independent'. DH pushing my manual chair makes me very stroppy

My DH has a disability and uses an electric scooter some of the time - can walk a very short distance with crutches. There has been a definite campaign in some parts of the media to see disabled people as benefit scroungers. The government has actively colluded in this too. My DH has had people make negative comments about him getting a "free" car (not free btw). He has also noticed a less sympathetic attitude amongst some people. He has had abuse in the street on more than one occasion. He has been active in disability rights for years and says it feels like society is going backwards in its attitudes.

I'd love to see how I come across to other people - no one has ever commented on/to me in public - I must look scary

gamerchick did you complain to the scout leader. I would have

I didn't, there was a few who were going to go over but we were all pretty upset and didn't want to get chucked off what was essentially their place. Their behaviour was pretty poor all round tbh. I found out they were Newcastle scouts thinking I would complain later but there are a few different scouts in that area. I just want their parents to know tbh.

maybe the head office of scouts. I know its too late now.

Oh yes free cars and shit it does get tiresome. I just faff about doing my own thing I honestly dont give a hoot what anybody thinks i have heard huffs waiting on a lift. eyes raised coming out of a disabled toilet comments on walking and using my chair I personally am to old to get het up about it I do care about the perception of all disabled people though.

YANBU

Totally agree that much of the rest of Europe is worse than the UK too.

I saw countless hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions in Russia last week that said 'no access for disabilities' on the front of them - so just saying so made it fine! One café even just had a picture of a wheelchair with a big red cross through it!! (presumably to cross all language barriers but still - so dehumanising.

Then in Poland there was a family with a girl with severe cerebral palsy trying to board a train. They were just ahead of me in the queue so I just assumed we'd wait while they got settled. The guard pushed them backwards and held up a hand to suggest wait. Ushered everyone else onto the train then huffed and puffed and sighed while he made the family lift the girl out of her chair and carry her on followed by her chair and all their luggage without lifting a finger to help.

And outside of Europe too - in Brazil I saw a man in a wheelchair being refused access to a bus because he was running late and didn't want to get his ramp out (wasn't an automatic one). But then 4 men jumped off the bus shouting, grabbed a corner of the chair each and lifted it on board with the man still in it - still not sure whether that was sweet and admirable or just dangerous!

But, to be honest, I think it's a society wide problem that we just don't ever consider until we are disabled, have a family member/close friend who is disabled or see specific instances like the above. And for that, we are all responsible. I walk around over non dropped curbs, cobbled streets, up and down windy staircases, on and off public transport with steps etc and it never even enters my head that a disabled person wouldn't be able to do it. It's something I think everyone should be much more aware of or nothing will ever change.

I also think the new issues of trying to make places accessible for those with disabilities such as autism clouds the issue of making places physically accessible too - almost a sort of 'oh well, well never suit everyone so let's not even try' type of attitude.

"I saw countless hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions in Russia last week that said 'no access for disabilities' on the front of them - so just saying so made it fine! One café even just had a picture of a wheelchair with a big red cross through it!! (presumably to cross all language barriers but still - so dehumanising." that has to be worse than anything, I mean it's one thing to have no access, quite another to blatantly tout the fact publicly.

I do agree though that Europe is far worse, but then Europe also has a much more lax attitude to health and safety. I remember going to turkey a few years ago and we went on a day trip to Rhodes, the amount of obstacles/seemingly no speed limits or any kind of access for e.g. Wheelchairs was truly astounding.

We're now against a new obstacle, DP needs to find somewhere else to live but no-one will accept a guide dog even though they're breaking the law by refusing.

The laws are actually useless because nobody cares. Taxi drivers get taken to court all the time for refusing guide dogs. The maximum fine is £5000 but generally they get a £100 fine and a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again. A friend of mine is a journalist and did some digging under the freedom of information act and found five local authorities who had issued fake exemption certificates for drivers who didn't wish to carry guide dogs.

wanna is there anyway he could avoid them even knowing he'd be moving in with the guide dog? (Realise this might not be practical for viewings etc). Because if they otherwise agreed and signed for a tenancy and then they refused last minute because of the dog, then legally you could drag them over the coals if you could prove it was the dog.
Obviously your dp might not want to move in after that, but it might put others off trying the same shit.

maybe the head office of scouts. I know its too late now

It's worth a shot, a letter inviting them down to a workshop with our kids to get rid of their ignorance springs to mind.