Equal treatment for the disabled – you pay more (From Malvern Gazette)
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Equal treatment for the disabled – you pay more
7:51am Friday 15th June 2012 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed
THREE Counties Show organisers have been labelled “ridiculous” for a new policy of charging disabled people full admission to avoid “discriminating against” them.
Malvern town councillor Julian Roskams said he thought it was a joke when he got a leaflet from the showground, which is set to have 100,000 visitors this weekend, detailing its new policies.
Headed ‘Three Counties Showground Welcomes Disabled Visitors’, it says the Three Counties Agricultural Society “does not wish to discriminate against visitors with disabilities, so the full admission rate will be charged”.
Coun Roskams labelled the move as “political correctness gone mad”.
“Can anyone explain how charging a discounted rate is discrimination against, rather than discrimination in favour of the disabled?” he said.
“I imagine that there are some disabled people who would say they don’t want to be treated any differently, but at the same time disabled people obviously face much higher living costs and so I think it is reasonable they should be offered some reduction.
“The suggestion that they are discriminating by charging a lower price is utterly ridiculous.”
Although the showground says full-time carers can apply for a free ticket if they book in advance and provide proof, Coun Roskams called the venue’s approach “particularly mean-spirited”.
The decision has also been slammed by Jenette Davy, of Malvern Access, which works to ensure disabled people have the best access to premises and services.
“Somebody clearly has not thought this through,” she said. “I think the wording is atrocious and puts people’s backs up straight away.
“It has been settled for many years that any public venue has offered people with disabilities a concession. There are good reasons why people with disabilities get their concessions and I hope that they will rethink this.”
Sharon Gilbert, PR manager for the Three Counties Agricultural Society, said the idea was to operate “a fair policy, which can be applied equally to all those who are disabled”.
She said: “The Society does not wish to discriminate against visitors with disabilities, so we charge the full rate. If the visitor has a full-time carer or attendant, however, a free ticket is available for them when purchasing a standard price ticket in advance and on provision of supporting documentation.
“Our gate staff were being put in the untenable position of having to decide whether someone was disabled.
“We also believe that the system was subject to abuse. We have therefore amended our policy in common with other similar events and local and national visitor attractions.”
Comments(23)
sarah and her chickens
says...
6:03pm Fri 15 Jun 12
jdRoskams
says...
7:06pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Though it would be wrong to generalise, it is undoubtedly the case that many disabled people face higher living costs than the able-bodied, and therefore it is fair to acknowledge this by charging a discretionary rate. We do the same for the young and the old - so why not for the disabled?
The free admission for full-time carers is welcome - but the rules are tightly drawn so that many of those who are effectively full-time carers would not qualify for free admission. By requiring pre-registration, extra obstacles are being put in the way of full-time carers.
I do understand that as result of the austerity measures that are being implemented by this government, many hard-working people are struggling for the essentials in life - let alone the luxuries. But I think it would be very sad if we were to lose our compassion for those who have been particularly hard hit by the cutbacks. The government is doing its best to ostracise those on benefit: we should have no part of it.
For the record, Ms Rouse, I was not attempting to make a headline. I wrote to the Gazette about this some weeks ago, and before the elction was called. And you are the Independent who does not believe in mud-slinging. It seems that you do not need to be party political to be political ... Let's keep politics out of this. This is about decency and compassion.
sarah and her chickens
says...
8:03pm Fri 15 Jun 12
jdRoskams
says...
9:03pm Fri 15 Jun 12
So - I have pointed out the problem, and the solution is obvious and commonplace. I hope you will support me in calling on the Showground to reconsider.
sarah and her chickens
says...
9:40pm Fri 15 Jun 12
The gazette did make much of your councillor status,was not aware you were in an election position.
jdRoskams
says...
10:49pm Fri 15 Jun 12
And I must apologise for confusing you with one of my fellow candidates, Sarah Rouse: it must have been very galling for you. I had been told on good authority, some time ago, that you were one and the same. Perhaps my confusion came from this piece in the Gazette a year ago - when you appeared (to me anyway!) to be replying on behalf of Ms Rouse: http://www.malvernga
zette.co.uk/news/914
8410.Parking_notice_
causes_upset/
You have commented too in the past on the council's task and finish policy, which is something of an issue for her.
Sorry about that ....
sjones
says...
10:54pm Fri 15 Jun 12
The fact that, if the person requires a carer, their carer can enter free of charge is most acceptable and does in fact show consideration. Is it really that mean spirited to make someone book ahead?
At the end of the day however, I do feel that you have made the key point here in that you have previously pointed out that disabled rates are "discretionary".
jdRoskams
says...
11:02pm Fri 15 Jun 12
The full-time carer is entitled, as you say, to a free pass, assuming they were aware that they needed to book in advance and online: if they show up on the day without having done so, then they will get no concession. And many of those who work as full-time carers are not recognised as such - this is part of a much wider problem of course.
Many venues up and down the country recognise that the disabled face difficulties that the rest of us do not face - and that they have been among the hardest hit by the welfare cuts. If the Showground does not wish to do so, I would like to hear a comvincing justification.
sjones
says...
11:22pm Fri 15 Jun 12
You mention welfare cuts and the impact that this has on people. Well, as far as I can see welfare payments were designed to allow for a better quality of life in regards to the essentials. Food, heating, rent/mortgage, care but not visiting a show which I would class as a luxury.
I am a single person who has no children, has no disabilities, works full time and receives no welfare. I pay my bills and rent etc which leaves very little left for luxuries, but that's ok. If I wanted to go, I would save up the £20 in preparation even if that is by putting £2 a month aside.
The principal here is that, of course people should receive financial help with the day to day costs of living if required but why should someone receive money off of a luxury because of their age or ability?
Fairness for all is all I'm saying.
jdRoskams
says...
11:25pm Fri 15 Jun 12
But, an interestign discussion nevertheless.
sarah and her chickens
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1:40am Sat 16 Jun 12
sarah and her chickens
says...
5:34am Sat 16 Jun 12
AbbySBaggins
says...
9:34am Sat 16 Jun 12
Allan Whitehead
says...
10:49am Sat 16 Jun 12
Quote “The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Disability Discrimination Act gives rights to disabled people to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability. It is unlawful to discriminate in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, the management, buying or renting of land or property, education and transport. The act was introduced over a period.
Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
Carers' needs are recognised in this legislation. It gives the right to have their needs taken into consideration when services are being assessed under the NHS and Community Care Act for an individual they care for. “
Unquote.
I find that disabled person have so many provisions made for them. That any able-bodied Person who is pessimistic enough could consider themselves the ones to be discriminated against.
Allan Whitehead
says...
11:00am Sat 16 Jun 12
However, I note little electioneering in the comments of J.D. Roskams. Why, make representation for one section of society,
When the issue disabled access or payment is ever, mentioned certain individuals (Mostly Politicians) always enter the debate in an electioneering style. I note that the shows organisers have decided that they have withdrawn any concessionary entrance fee for disabled persons. However, provision is made for them to apply free entry due to their disability.
Yet Councillor J.D. Roskam accuses Malvern’s Member of Parliament, of not following up on some item he raised with her.
It seems that comments made by Sarah and her Chickens seem to upset Councillor Roskam. While I have some support for any disabled persons, you see the “Blue Badge” abused on so many occasions, that the disabled themselves become angry. Concession for Children and Elderly, and in some areas, Unwaged, have been around for some time, yet there are many types of disability, some are easy to recognise, others are undetectable by just looking at the individual.
Sarah and Her Chickens, I feel that Councillor J.D. Roskams comments aired very closely on Political Mud Slinging, so I feel he must be coming up for Election.
sarah and her chickens
says...
2:47pm Sat 16 Jun 12
sarah and her chickens wrote:Councillor Roskims seems to have taken exception to my wording was not aware you were in an election position.It probably should have read were they instead of was ....grammatical error on my part.I do apologise for all the upset that this seems to have generated for him
Indeed i do ,now we have clarity of the situation.That is why the internet comments are so important .They bring about a good discussion on a limited article.
The gazette did make much of your councillor status,was not aware you were in an election position.
Emmabeth
says...
3:22pm Sat 16 Jun 12
The real problem is that not only do I have to apply in advance, but I have to do so in writing and lord only knows how long that will take.
That immediately takes away my ability to be spontaneous and decide on the spur of the moment that I'll do something - something able bodied persons can do of course.
If Three Counties were just to change the ruling so that disabled persons with a carer had to show some paperwork proving they have a full time carer, to get the discount, that would be fine (alternatively lets make it fair and equal across the board and anyone wanting a discount for children or pensioners can also only do so if they apply in advance... no? Didn't think so!)
sjones
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9:24pm Sat 16 Jun 12
I still don't believe that the pre order aspect was "mean spirited" as suggested by Coun Roskams but I can certainly see that it was rather short sighted.
Emmabeth
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1:58am Sun 17 Jun 12
At worst it demonstrates that the people in charge at Three Counties are of the view that most people likely to attend and claim disability are in fact doing so fraudulently.. which is unpleasant but hardly an uncommon view these days.
I haven't lived here long enough to know whether that's the case or whether offering discounted tickets for disabled visitors caused a real financial loss for Three Counties.
I can say, that had I been able to sort out the concession for my carer, I would have attended this year and because I couldn't do that, I haven't been, which is a shame as I was hoping to go but wasn't aware of the policy as it is so wildly different from other venues/events.
sjones
says...
5:09pm Sun 17 Jun 12
I am sorry that you did not get to go this year but hope that, should you wish to attend next year, you have the opportunity to.
sarah and her chickens
says...
8:56pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Lord Newbold
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9:59pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Have caused much upset to many possible visitors to their show.
Surely, the only person whom should be considered for any concessions are those on “Job Seekers Allowances”, Benefits are for the payment of rents, food, and travel, and not for luxury days out.
Pensioners have a regular income; disabled persons can receive various allowances, and have legislation to give them added protection. Our systems, in many areas have special fees for children. I feel that it is wrong that disabled have to apply for concessionary admittance; they should be able to decide whether they wish to attend any event on the day the they alight from their slumbers. Most concessions are at the proprietors’ discretion and can be altered at any time.
Unfortunately, we are now in a time of recession or so we are lead to believe, yet these organisations spend monies on creating a worthwhile event then alter their rules for no other reason than to recoup as much money as the can. It is obvious that by upping the price for admission, then claiming it is so able-bodied persons will not feel discriminated against, is one exaggeration to far.
THE FACTS says...
9:30am Fri 15 Jun 12