Wicked Discrimination...

[weeboyagee]

I haven't been active on these forums for some time (although not absent!) but would like to bring something to your attention that has been in the press recently both on television, radio and in the papers. This is my mate Glyn, his wife and family and in particular his 12 year old son Gregor. Glyn and I met in college some (cough!) years ago and have been good mates since. After what he and his family have been through and what they are still doing to raise awareness I met with him at the weekend and we had a chat about how things are.

I would dearly love as many to show their support as possible in order that we can raise awareness of this form of (sometimes unwitting) discrimination in order that something more positive can be done about reducing and eliminating it.

https://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/groups/greenwicked/?id=244084365613475&notif_t=group_activity

Many thanks

WBG :(

[Alice in Blunderland]

As a society we have lots of legislation to stop discrimination of many kinds however what's written and what's done is often two separate things. Educating people from an early age is one of the best ways of tackling discrimination.

[stekar]

People ought not to jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. This is written as a parent of an autistic child....

[Alice in Blunderland]

This is written as a parent of an autistic child....


Sorry I dont quite get your point here. Is there a difference between a parent of an autistic child and a parent of any other child ? :confused

[rob1]

Although I empathise with the family, did they not consider that with their own experiance of dealing with their son's condition that it may affect the enjoyment of the production of others - many of which would have spent £55+ on a single ticket. I know none of the audiance complained - and I would not have complained either, but I would have felt quite peeved that I could not fully enjoy the production after spending quite alot of money.

[theone]

I heard this story on the radio.

First of all, I feel sorry for the parents and for the child, it must have been a terrible experience.

However, maybe I'm seeing this situation in a diiferent way to others, but I can't see how this is discrimination.

Without hearing the other side of the story, I can only assume the sound engineer thought the child was disruptive. It makes no difference that the child is autistic or not. They were not asked to move because their child was autistic, they were asked to move because he was disruptive. If a non-autistic child was asked to move because they were being disruptive to the sound engineer or other customers would that be discrimination? Of course not.

It's unfortunate, it's embarrasing, and perhaps even unlucky for those involved. But it's not discrimination.

[bullielove]

I haven't been active on these forums for some time (although not absent!) but would like to bring something to your attention that has been in the press recently both on television, radio and in the papers. This is my mate Glyn, his wife and family and in particular his 12 year old son Gregor. Glyn and I met in college some (cough!) years ago and have been good mates since. After what he and his family have been through and what they are still doing to raise awareness I met with him at the weekend and we had a chat about how things are.

I would dearly love as many to show their support as possible in order that we can raise awareness of this form of (sometimes unwitting) discrimination in order that something more positive can be done about reducing and eliminating it.

https://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/groups/greenwicked/?id=244084365613475&notif_t=group_activity

Many thanks

WBG :(

So sorry to hear about Gregors experiences during what should have been an amazing experience for him and his family. WBG I would be glad to go on facebook and show my support for children with disabilities and the obvious discrimination Gregor experienced as a direct result of his conditions. Its a shame though that for some reason some posters on here dont appear to have much compassion and will go out their way to disagree ...Shows how wide spread discrimination is.. not just at the apollo theatre. Dont lose faith and keep raising awareness as we are not all like that.

[bullielove]

Oh my days.. god help the person with the weak bladder who sits next to you... Three pees and your out. Maybe theatres etc should only allow people a maximum number of visits to the loo.. or ban people with certain medical conditions. Discrimination at its best dont you think.. Or is it that if you pay £55 for a ticket you earn the right to preach who can and who cant also enjoy the experience. How traumatic do you think it is for the person who has that medical condition to try and do something nice however what they end up experiencing the wrath of discrimination and stigma from other? Though I suspect you dont really care

[YummyMummy]

When you have an autistic child, you become very aware, very early on, that no matter what, your child will miss out. It is heart-breaking, but it is true. You become very well practiced at “heading things off at the pass”; avoiding social situations, avoiding restaurants and holidays and planes and parties and even the friends you once had and all the stuff that you take for granted with children that are not on the autistic spectrum. It becomes second nature. Planning anything out of the ordinary is like mobilising an army. You become so hyper alert of the impact you have on others and are constantly acutely aware that folk might not be as understanding as you would like them to be.
Your child then gets to an age and stage that you think it might be safe. You dare not presume that it will be, but you just hope that it might. You spend your waking hours thinking about the smile on their face when you can, at last, give them that treat that you know they long for….. I expect this family, were there or thereabouts with their trip to London with their bairns.
How can this not be discrimination? Had the child not had the disability, he would not have been asked to leave. His disability and the way it presents itself (i.e. in his presentation and possible behaviour) prevented him from taking part in an activity that his age related peers, not encumbered by that disability, were able to enjoy. It was the fact that he was disabled that led him being asked to leave.
Now, I ask this, why should a 12 year old child not take part in an activity enjoyed by his peers and little sister because of the fact that he is disabled? To prevent him from taking part is surely discrimination is it not? Are disabled people, that may come over as “disruptive,” not allowed to visit the cinema or theatre? For fear of them upsetting those that paid £55 a pop? (incidentally, I expect the child and his family’s money was just as good as everyone else’s). His Dad said he was not disruptive and I am sure he would know.
Perhaps the Apollo needs to have a look at its practices and procedures and get its house in order. I am sure a wee reminder of the law might kick them into touch. Shame on them. It is sickening that a child, who has already encountered his fair share of disadvantage, is subjected to such sickening treatment. If this is not discrimination, then I would like to know what is.

[Liz]

I've just read Glyn's story, on Facebook, about what happened. How awful that,what should have been a wonderful family night out, ended in such an awful way! :(

I have joined the FB group and am so glad to see there is so much support.

[theone]

How can this not be discrimination? Had the child not had the disability, he would not have been asked to leave. His disability and the way it presents itself (i.e. in his presentation and possible behaviour) prevented him from taking part in an activity that his age related peers, not encumbered by that disability, were able to enjoy. It was the fact that he was disabled that led him being asked to leave.
Now, I ask this, why should a 12 year old child not take part in an activity enjoyed by his peers and little sister because of the fact that he is disabled? To prevent him from taking part is surely discrimination is it not?

I have a friend in his 20's who recently had a fit, thought to be epilepsy, and as such he has had his driving licence revoked by the DVLA.

His disability, and the way it presents itself, prevents him taking part in an activity that his peers are able to enjoy.

Is he being discriminated against?

I think not. He is just in an unfortunate situation brought on by the bad luck of his circumstances.

Should the Apollo have dealt with the situation differently? Yes, I would say so. I'm sure they will learn for future. But I still don't think the young lad was unjustly discriminated against because of his disability.

[sandyr1]

I tend to agree T. I have a friend who has a son with the issue, and they want him to be treated like any other child, but when it comes to a situation like this, then it becomes difficult to deal with perhaps disruptions. Many of us have things we cannot do as well as others!

And wrath and stigma! Perhaps a bit overboard there.....

[Ambassador Theatre Group]

AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP STATEMENT

We deeply regret any upset caused to the Morris family and would like to apologise for their bad experience last month at the Apollo Victoria in London.

We are grateful to them for highlighting an issue that goes to the very heart of our company’s mission to provide an excellent experience for all our patrons. We firmly believe that everyone has the right to access live theatre, regardless of ability or disability, and we especially welcome children and young people.

However, we must clarify two points of fact which have been overlooked in much of the coverage of this story.



The sound engineer did not complain about Gregor Morris, but merely alerted venue staff that there was a disturbance in the auditorium as she was concerned that someone was ill.




At no time were the Morris Family asked to leave the theatre. Mr Morris and his son left of their own accord, leaving his wife and daughter to watch the rest of the performance.


ATG firmly believes that no patron should ever be asked to leave one of its theatres as a direct consequence of their disability. In this instance, whilst the staff concerned did not actually ask the family to leave, the way in which the situation was handled clearly resulted in the family feeling that they had no option. This is wholly unacceptable and we have apologised unreservedly for the distress caused to the Morris family.

Whilst we have a comprehensive access policy and training programme, this incident has naturally caused us to review both to ensure that our training model is fit for purpose. This is underway now. We work with a number of disability organisations on an ongoing basis and will be seeking further advice from them as to how we can improve our staff training.

ATG’s Joint CEO and Head of Learning and Access have both been in regular contact with Mr Morris and we are now working towards a positive outcome, including looking at ways of raising awareness of the needs of visitors with disabilities including in theatres nationally, and improving our practice through engaging with charities who specialise in this field.

Ambassador Theatre Group

[gerry4]

I have heard about this on a number of occasions, radio 5 even had a phone in about it. Mr Morris was interviewed on it and he seemed to be happy with the threatre's response when they contacted him. The family have since been to the Group's theatre in Edinburgh with no problems.

On the phone in other people in the theatre called in to say so far as they were concerned there was not a problem. They heard the boy but were not annoyed by it. One described the boy as making 'appropriate noises' i.e. not shouting or crying or swearing, etc.

I am not sure what the purpose of this thread or the facebook page is now. Everything is sorted, the Group have apologized and Mr Morris so far as I know has happily accepted it. So far as i am concerned that should be a end to it. The theatre should have no more bad publicity. Mistakes were made and hopefully rectified. Lets end it

[GlynMorris]

I am not sure what the purpose of this thread or the facebook page is now. Everything is sorted, the Group have apologized and Mr Morris so far as I know has happily accepted it. So far as i am concerned that should be a end to it. The theatre should have no more bad publicity. Mistakes were made and hopefully rectified. Lets end it

Thanks for your comment, but it's far from it. Click here http://thesocialissue.com/2011/10/autism-and-theatre-good-work-waiting-in-the-wings/#comments

G (http://thesocialissue.com/2011/10/autism-and-theatre-good-work-waiting-in-the-wings/#comments)lyn Morris

[oldmarine]

This has been sad reading. I had a son with ADD (Attention Deficet 'sp?' Disorder). Some compared it to autistic behavior although it was not. Still it made rasing him difficult. I symphatise/emphatise with this type of disorder and feel compassion for people with those type of challenges.

[poppett]

A lot of good has come out of the Wicked discrimination facebook page....also a lot of new friends made or found within the posters.

Glyn`s work has only just begun, methinks.

[GlynMorris]

A lot of good has come out of the Wicked discrimination facebook page....also a lot of new friends made or found within the posters.

Glyn`s work has only just begun, methinks.

Perfectly said!

So much has happened and so much to happen for next year. Watch this space. :grin:

[poppett]

Thank you Glyn. Just speaking the truth. I have made some really good contacts through the WD facebook page who have offered me support and kindness during the last few traumatic weeks of my life.

I look forward to hearing more about how society can improve its outlook, not only to youngsters with autistic spectrum, but adults with problems too.