Paralympics discrimination

[shazzap]

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/international-paralympic-committee-london2012-review-ticketing-policy-for-wheelchair-users

[Corrie 3]

This has to be a wind up.......surely?

C3............[disgust]

[shazzap]

By all accounts no. It is not a wind up.

[theone]

I have no idea if this is a windup or not.

But I have no doubt that situations might occur where people with specialist needs might find difficulty in having those needs met.

Having been in the olympic park, I can assure you that it has been designed and catered for those of limited ability. For eveyone? Probably not, but the effort has definitely been there, and no doubt to current regulations.

For those who get offended by the issue, let's try to put things into perspective. The "issue" here is that a wheelchair user should be accompnied by someone not in a wheelchair. It's not because of a hatred of wheelchair users, It's not so we can single them out. Anyone who believes that is the case........

It's because there are laws in place, and building regulations also, to ensure that in the worst case scenario (fire maybe?) people can be saved, or save themselves.

Now, I'd agree that the place should be designed to allow that. I'd like to think it is.

But what we're speaking about her isn't exactly normal circumstances. We're speaking about somebody with limited mobility, in a wheelchair, with an autistic child and and a 19 month old baby. She wants to attend the olympics like that, on her own, independant, not discriminated against.

If the Olympic stadium was on fire, and I was behind her trying to get out, I'd be questioning my "rights" also.

For me, this is a total non story.

[changilass]

As a wheelchair user, her carer will get a free ticket, surely she could find a family member/friend, willing to sit with her so hubby can sit with the kids.

Its all well and good her shouting about her rights, but to give her what she wants would be taking someone elses rights away.

What happens if she has 10 kids, should they all get front seat tickets?

[squidge]

The question should be if she was able bodied would the same rules apply? Would they say your children cant sit with you in the disabled area.... no they wouldnt. Are disabled people not supposed to be parents? Surely they thought this through? How is she taking someone else's rights away? She is smply asking to be allowed to have her family sit with her.

[changilass]

If she was able bodied they wouldn't say that as she had a seat in the equivalent of first class, then her family could sit with her even if they only had 2nd class seats.

There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces, if her family take up 4 of those spaces, instead of the allotted 2, then someone else can't go, therefore taking away their rights.

You are not guaranteed ticket together in any sporting venue, if there is tickets available and you apply early enough you may get them.