Reader is indignant that NTUC Fairprice executive insisted that
the group of students leave the supermarket even though they did
not create any disturbance or inconvenience others. -ST
Wed, Nov 14, 2007
The Straits Times
I WRITE with some indignation about the brusque treatment that a
group of special-needs students received from an NTUC FairPrice
executive on Nov 7.
The group of 14 Down's, autistic and learning-challenged students
were on an outing at FairPrice's Queenstown branch, part of a
routine to equip them with life skills, including doing simple
tasks like going to the supermarket.
They were at the supermarket to complete a Home Economics worksheet
helping them to search for basic food ingredients, and making price
distinctions and purchasing decisions.
A few minutes into the visit, a woman executive approached the
group and asked to speak to the teacher in charge.
She insisted that the group should not be in the supermarket
because prior permission had not been obtained.
She highlighted that the group's presence might affect the level of
service to other customers even though the students did not create
any disturbance or inconvenience others.
The executive harped on the fact that the group was blocking an
aisle even though the supermarket was relatively empty around
4pm.
Despite a gentle request to allow the students to complete their
assigned task of identifying seven items, the executive refused to
relent. The students were rather disturbed by the incident and
asked why they had been evicted from the supermarket.
Although this was an isolated incident, it reminded me that our
society still has some way to go towards being more accepting of
people with special needs.
Despite their disability, they deserve basic respect and
compassion, like any other person on the street.
Koh Siew Yuen (Mrs)
