Hi, I'm sarah777! Asked to conceal my oxygen unit by holiday firm - is this discrimination?

sarah777

Hello 

I have a liquid oxygen mother unit, which I have just been told by a holiday firm …that it needs to be covered up as someone it finding it upsetting, to find it has been covered with a camo net! 

Is this a discrimination….. that it has to to be hidden? 

Thanks for any thoughts or comments x

chiarieds

Hello @sarah777 - & welcome to the community. I must admit I certainly find covering your oxygen unit with a camouflage net odd. Are you staying in a hotel? I hope this doesn't spoil your holiday, & hasn't caused too much distress, but I do know how others being tactless, likely due to a lack of understanding, makes you feel uncomfortable when you've not done a thing wrong.

My youngest daughter had a tracheotomy, & I had a small portable suction unit. On a long train journey down to London, I needed to briefly suction her. One elderly lady nearby turned to her companion saying that she (my daughter) shouldn't be allowed out. We were going to Gt. Ormond St Hospital. I regret I didn't speak to them, if only to educate a little. Perhaps you will have that opportunity, & no regrets.

sarah777

Hello, yes I can understand that regret, we are in am small lodge in the woods and there are other people next door, who we believe have spoken with the company and it doesn’t look in fitting with the surrounding so it’s been cover with the net - BOC have also been called out to check to it …. It’s so up setting as it feels as discriminatory! 

Thanks you for you reply and have a nice weekend 

Cher_Alumni

Hi @sarah777 and welcome to our community. How are you today?

I'm so sorry you join us under these circumstances. I can wholly understand you feeling upset and am aghast that you were asked to cover your oxygen unit because it didn't fit in with the surroundings. Honestly, sometimes there are no words and rather than being an issue with yourself, points to a broader lack of understanding about life with impairments.  

I've done a little reading and the BOC offers this advice on 'Going on holiday in the UK' with oxygen which I'm sure you are familiar with already.  Whilst, I'd recommend you contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) for specialist advice about the matter of discrimination.  The EASS have a helpline which you can contact on 0808 800 0082, between Monday - Friday: 9am - 7pm and Saturday: 10am - 2pm.

I hope this doesn't detract too much from you having a nice break, and know that we are sending lots of virtual support your way.  If you could keep us updated with how you get on, that would be appreciated.

Also - I've tweaked the title of your thread and moved it to our 'Disabled people' category to make it more visible to our members