Disabled discrimination upsets customers

A GRANDMOTHER and campaigner for children with cerebral palsy, experienced the pain and humiliation of discrimination against disabled children first-hand, when her six year-old grandson was chased out of a clothing retailer last week.

Richards Bay Cerebral Palsy Support Group founder, Maretha Schutte, says the incident underlined the general ignorance of society about the challenges disabled children face.

‘My grandson has cerebral palsy and is pushed in a trolley because he is unable to walk.

‘My husband and I went shopping for winter clothes at a newly opened centre in Richards Bay last week.

‘I already had some items in my hand when I was stopped by a tall employee and chased out the store, because ‘trolleys are not allowed’.

‘I put the clothes down and asked him if he would rather lose the sale than to allow my grandson into the store.

‘I told him he was discriminating against a disabled child.

‘He was extremely rude, refused to listen and chased us out again.

‘He said he was not interested in our story and ordered us to leave.

‘While my husband tried to explain, he turned around and walked away.

‘The store was not busy, but there were other customers and it was such an embarrassment.’

Apology

Maretha complained on the store’s website and the area manager contacted her to apologise.

‘He promised to take up the incident with the store manager, who was on leave at the time, and the employee.

‘He explained that shop theft is a huge problem and that they as a security measure do not allow trolleys.

‘It is an understandable situation, but disability is an exception to the rule and employees should be educated about that.

‘If all retailers and shops as a blanket rule prohibit trolleys, where do parents and caregivers of disabled children shop?

‘We do take our grandson to town with a walking ring, but that is an even greater risk, as people in general do not watch where they are going and often bump into him.

‘Despite awareness drives, disabled children still face discrimination on a daily basis,’ says Maretha.

The Richards Bay Cerebral Palsy Support Group for parents, family and friends of children with cerebral palsy, will meet on 12 May from 10 am to 12 am at the AGS Church in Waterberry Wood. Maretha can be contacted on 0839442619.