£2,500 settlement for boy in trampoline case
30/10/2019
Disability discrimination case supported by the Equality Commission NI.
Zack Gordon is ten years old and has prosthetic legs. In July 2017, when on a visit to We Are Vertigo Trampoline Park, Zack was not allowed to use the trampolines because of his prosthetic legs. While they offered him other things to do, Zack said he did not want to leave his friends. He has settled his disability discrimination case, taken with the assistance of the Equality Commission, for £2,500.
Zack’s father Patrick Gordon explains: “Zack was only 7 when this happened. His prosthetic legs are plastic/fibre-glass with rubber feet. He went with the Killyleagh Summer programme to We Are Vertigo, where he watched the safety video and was given a wristband and socks for using the trampolines along with all the other kids. Zack was then told he couldn’t use the trampolines. He was upset and sad and when he got home he stayed in his room. His mother and I were angry and hurt.”
Anne McKernan, Director of Legal Services, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said: “The Disability Discrimination Act includes a proactive duty which requires service providers to think about what adjustments they should make to their services to ensure that people with a disability can access them.
“Play is a vital part of growing up for all children and parents of disabled children will be keenly aware of the importance of focusing on what their children can do, rather than on what they cannot. Service providers should anticipate that those with a disability, both adults and children, will want to access their services and they should give thought in advance to what reasonable adjustments will help to ensure that their services are available to all,” concluded Anne McKernan.
In settling the case, We are Vertigo affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity and agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission in respect of access to its services for disabled customers and to make contact with the Commission within 12 weeks of the date of the settlement. It also agreed to implement any reasonable recommendations made by the Commission.
Related information:
Every Customer Counts - Promoting Accessible Services:
www.equalityni.org/EveryCustomerCounts