autisticPepole not allowedin supermarket? (what??)

Post Reply New Topic

Discrimination. If I was the manager, the teenagers would've been kicked out.

It's obvious other store patrons felt the teenagers were responsible, judging from their reactions. If I was a customer, and I had a choice of another grocery store to go to, the store where this occurred would lose my business permanently, and I would not hesitate to complain about the way the store is being run to other potential customers.

If I was you or your brother, I would get the manager's name and write a complaint to the head office of the store. The situation with the manager was unacceptable.

In case this might help: The manager of a store is the store manager, they are the top dog at that location. Co-managers are 2nd highest. CSM's (customer service manager's) are also supposed to be helpful.

OK the law in the UK is that you have to be provided with the same opportunities as everyone else. This does not mean they have to treat you equally to everyone else, but that they have to make 'reasonable adjustments' (ie treat you differently) so that you have the same outcome. With autism, this means allowing certain behaviours which wouldn't be allowed in others. If a business does not do that, as in this case, the onus is on them to prove that what they are doing is justified. For example, if you were having a meltdown that involved pulling over shelves and crushing little old ladies restricting you access could be justified. Restricting your access because you make them feel uncomfortable cannot be justified. Does that make sense?

What you need to do is contact the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (link at the bottom). They are the government body responsible for tackling disability discrimination. They will send you a standard letter, where you fill in some of details, to send to Asda asking them to justify their actions within a certain timescale. It's all very proper and legally worded. Once you get that response, you can decide whether it needs to be taken further.

MOST IMPORTANT: There are very short deadlines for bringing a case for disability discrimination (3 months I think, but I'm not sure). So you have to act fast because you have to give them the chance to explain and possibly go through mediation and ultimately file a case before that time is up.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

Goodluck from someone who look on an organisation as big as ASDA with the help and support of the EHRC and won.

Doh! I just noticed that the helpline numbers are listed on the first page next to that link.

Well, I don't think the grocery store should ban you from it. However, the world isn't fair and, as wrong as it may be, the teenage boys mocking you were engaging in less socially unacceptable behavior than you were. This is an NT world. Even though you didn't destroy anything or hurt anyone else, YOU are viewed as the one to be stigmatized. The teenagers making fun of you were "boys just being boys" and, despite how mean-spirited they were, our society is willing to overlook their behavior. The reason is this: their behavior was unlikely to make other customers (with the exception of you) uncomfortable whereas your behavior is a turn-off to NT customers. I sympathize with you but I do know why the NT (presumably) managers acted the way they did.

The world isn't a fair or just place for people with Autism. Most people simply can't relate. I mean, you wear ear protectors while grocery shopping. Most people find that to be highly odd and unacceptable behavior that they are willing to shun you for, even though you're just minding your own business. There was a kid in my high school that I was sort of friends with and he bit his hand and slammed and pounded his head when he got angry or stressed--it really made me upset. I also have had obsessions just as strange as your ear protector obsession (including at one point, an obsession with pink eraser caps lol) so I'm on your side entirely, but most people cannot relate to this.

This kind of thing is blatantly illegal in the USA. It is a clear violation of Americans with Disabilities Act. I am guessing you live outside the US.
Those punks should be BANNED. But sadly, I had experiences in through my school days just like this. Someone else causes a problem, but I got blamed.
I am sorry you had this happen. Have your parents complain to management about it, if you can..

Sincerely,
Matt

I'm sorry that had to happen to you. People can be so horrible to anyone that doesn't "fit in". I really hope that something will be done about this and I think you're very brave for trying to stand up to them. Unfortunately, I don't live in the UK so I don't know much about how disability rights work over there. But still, take care and good luck to you.

Can't a UK shop ban any particular person from entering their shop?

Disability rights aside, a shop is owned by someone, it's their shop, their property, so they must be able to decide who enters it in most European countries.

Well, it's not like I don't understand and don't think this rude treatment is wrong and utterly discriminative. I've been in similar situations and people said nasty things to my face about wanting to strap me onto a table and mad things like that although I had not caused them harm - still:

I worry that the shop owner or whoever else is in charge of that shop/branch will be fed up, then declare a ban for a silly reason such as customers being scared off by autistic behaviours. There'd be no easy and quick entering that supermarket again for some time, then.

Maybe the UK is insanely quick about these things but in Germany, lawsuits take their sweet (long) time.