'reasonable adjustment' not being respected

WaltWetlander

I am diagnosed with Asperger's (autism) and find culture and arts vital for my mind. The Equities Act has been incredibly helpful in ensuring people on low income do have access however, some organisations either don't quite get it or choose to effectively ignore the Act.

There is a very large institution in London with an international reputation that chooses to avoid proper implementation of the Act.

They do offer wheelchair spaces, but if you don't need a wheelchair space they offer nothing at all. There is no reasonable adjustment on ticket prices or any other kind of reasonable adjustment.

I have been emailing them explaining their policy is incoherent, and that I would go to the ticket office on Friday last and try to buy a ticket that respected The Equalities Act.

I did and they sold me a normal priced ticket but instead of the back of the top tier, they charged the same amount for a wheelchair carer position in the Stalls. 

So the same price but a better location, presumably sitting with my imaginary wheelchair friend/relative next to me.

It doesn't feel right.

Can anyone say why?

p.s. one thing is it feels a little like segregation. Also, would this count as a 'reasonable adjustment'. I am really unsure and am tempted to return the ticket but haven't quite worked out why I think that

Thanks.

Bobbie99

Hi I agree that the Equality Act is totally flawed.

I experienced you same problem. They do not give any sort of reasonable discount for disable people, they give a discount to the carer. Totally silly approach. 
These sort of laws must be discussed in Parliament no point to complain with Concert halls, museums, etc... until the parliament do not review and implement serious changes in the Equality Act 2010, we have to expect silly behaviour. 

I consulted a couple of friends solicitors specialised in equality employment and they agreed on the fact that this law must be reviewed asap. We have the laws on this matter but in reality they can bypass them as there are a lot of loophole. They are made on purpose to give companies an escape getting rid of disable people

This should be a Campagin SCOPE SHOULD LOBBY FOR , because a serious revision of the Equality Act is absolutely needed. They make a fake law, just to save the appearance. SHAME !

WaltWetlander

Hello Bobbie, and thank you for your comments.

I am both surprised and furious arts institutions go to such lengths to avoid their legal responsibilities.

They are in breach of civil law! Legally, there is a case to be made.

If anyone else would like to offer thoughts/ideas, please do - I will ponder this for a few more days before taking next steps.

Thanks again, Bobby

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @WaltWetlander

It is unfair. I think it is a concept that needs work on. Although I think carers should get a discount too, as they are occurring a cost for something they may not want to do, but have to when caring for someone. It has been recognised by many that those with disabilities have higher costs, so they should have a different admission price, especially as there are limited disability spots with certain venues or events. There are those that recognise this and discount cards and schemes are out there to help. 

Can I ask, is this institute privately run or part of a larger organisation who may be part of a discount card scheme?

I'm from the midlands, and those on certain benefits or are carers can apply for a "passport to leisure card". I had a google, but it is something the local councils run, may be worth asking yours if they do?

Bobbie99

Hello and thank you for your comments, very appreciated.

To be frank there are a lot of areas to be reviewed from TRANPORT to EMPLOYMENT TO ACCESS TO CULTURAL LIFE, ETC.... 

Disable people face high cost as they have to look after their health more than the average person and part of these costs go into care. Often cost are directly proportional to the level of disability  For example I need a weekly therapy with the physiotherapist on the contrary I cannot walk any longer. I have been referred by my GP to a a place where I have to contribute  but what I receive to live is so low I cannot go regularly with massive impact on my heath. Regular physiotherapy with NHS is impossible, NO existent, and they can offer few appointments but not on a regular basis. I need to take regular but mild exercise to avoid stiffness and to avoid ending up in a wheelchair. 

We have a benefit system that is totally flawed for disable people, we can barely survive, if you are single you struggle at any level. We are looked suspiciously by DWP and people, as if we were stealing and there is a lot of prejudice around us. I would give anything to be as I used to be, anything. My friends can travel, can work, can grow up children, can do anything... I am always exhausted even if I do not do much and my social life is rubbish and for an extrovert like me, has a massive impact on my mental health. I lost my job last year because of my condition and I am so ashamed to be in benefit that I prefer not to say to anyone and I am reluctantly lying, avoiding any topic around it. 

When I lost my job last year I managed to put my mind on the Equality Act 2010 and I have found this piece of law so flawed that I could not believe our policy makers had the gut to approve such a depressing piece of legislation. I talked with few lawyers about it and all of them confirmed my opinion. Therefore I have decided to use all my time and energies to lobby for a drastic review , it does not matter how long it takes, I hope, if not me, someone else can benefit. I find the level of unfairness of this law is astonishing. Leaving space for interpretation, where it can be applied someone judgment, ends up in not recognising fully the pillars of the Equality Law itself.
We need to involve expert lawyers and policy makers willing to volunteer for this cause, because anyone can turn disable and it is not fault of anyone to be born or becoming disable. 
Furthermore it must change the public perception of disable people, we want to be fully part of our society as we have assets and we all can contribute like everybody else.

I have a pain in my chest every day , all day because of what others think of us as burden for society. 

 

L_Volunteer

I totally hear you about the disproportionate treatment and experience @Bobbie99. You are right, the 'benefits' really are only for leveling the playing field but sometimes some people see them as an advantage and remove them from us.

Also, legislation is ambiguous and open to interpretation - some people will use it to support us but others will use it against us to save them 'work' and 'money'. There need to be more of us able to fight for the former 

john_taylor

Everyone should be treated equally that large one you are talking about should know better service for their disabled customers.