Nov 3, 2006 (Straits time interactive)
Disabled dad thrown out of candy shop with vulgarities
IT PAINS me to write this but my family experienced an appalling
incident recently in Singapore's newest shopping mall.
On Oct 29, we visited the sweet shop in Basement 2. During this
visit, we pushed my father-in-law in his wheelchair around the
shop. This visit was without incident. The family decided we would
return after dinner as grandpa wanted to buy some candy for his
granddaughter.
When we returned, we were rudely stopped at the entrance with a
wave of a hand and an irritated expression as though we, in our
apparent carelessness, had missed the notice on the entrance
prohibiting wheelchairs. We had not seen this notice initially,
presumably because we had not expected to be discriminated against
in this mall.
When we asked why wheelchairs were prohibited, the manager retorted
as if we were too dense to understand. 'The sign says so, so no
wheelchairs!' He then gesticulated vulgarly at the sign behind him,
without even looking at us.
Not only had the store blatantly discriminated against my
father-in-law, but we also felt threatened by the manager's hostile
attitude. I expressed my exasperation and we left.
As we left, we noticed another wheelchair-bound customer waiting
outside. He was alone, presumably waiting for his family who were
inside.
My father-in-law suffered a stroke last year which left him
paralysed. We try to encourage him to venture outside the home.
Imagine the hurt he must have felt. All he wanted was to buy
candies for his granddaughter. We were in the shop earlier and the
aisles could certainly accommodate wheelchairs.
Why build ramps in that mall only to limit access to certain shops?
Are handicapped individuals allowed only to window shop?
If tenants apply principles which are against the very values the
Government is striving to promote, that is, a handicap-friendly
environment, landlords should not be passive and allow tenants to
tarnish the good name of their establishment.
Had this incident occurred in the West, it would have created an
uproar. With the upcoming integrated resorts and the influx of
tourists, the mall will not want to be seen in the wrong
light.
I wonder what MP Lily Neo would say about what happened to us. As
reported in The Straits Times, Dr Neo's team were wheeling disabled
people around to find out how to promote wheelchair-friendliness.
But there we were, discriminated against by some businessman who
could not care less for the handicapped.
As a business owner myself, I strive to impress on my staff that it
is the masses we serve and it is the masses who sustain our
business. Perhaps Mr X is not interested in the small business each
family can give.
The purpose of this letter is to protect my family's rights and I
will not stand down to such intimidation.
Catryna Zhang Ai Ling (Ms)
You can see the link here
http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=f832758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:c56465bd057ae010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD
the 2nd article which i presume is the same candy store
Nov 1, 2006
Son's wheelchair not allowed in candy store
I have a 14-year-old son who uses a wheelchair. Whenever we shop
together, I will check the space between rows of display in a shop
before deciding if it is spacious enough for his wheelchair. If
not, we will skip that shop. Even then, at times we will leave if
shop attendants hint to us that we are taking up too much
space.
Last weekend we visited Vivo City with his sister. At Basement 2,
we saw the signboard for the candy store, Candy Empire, from afar
and thought of buying some.
However, at the entrance there is a notice which reads: 'Please do
not bring your trolley or wheelchair into the shop''.
I can understand about trolleys which may be large as there is a
hypermart nearby. But what about a wheelchair? Isn't this
discrimination?
For me, it is all right if the store does not want my business. But
I cannot help feeling for my son. His disability is permanent and
he knows he is not welcome in quite a number of places. But to have
this type of notice specifically meant for wheelchair users, it is
uncalled for.
Molly Zhao Li Juen (Mdm)
http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=f832758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:ee931f367dd9e010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcIOID:b1dd36bfcce9e010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcDate:1162418340000
This is maddening. I am going to boycott this shop till they
apologise in the papers
