Creche not taking 'disabled' baby

[krystals]

So this happened a while ago and I've written a letter to the management of the centre who haven't replied yet- but I just wanted to know if anybody else had experienced this...

A few weeks ago I approached the creche at our local swimming pool to book DS in (you have to book 3 days ahead). It was going to be for an hour. I walked in with DS in the pram, just to check it out for myself and to book, when the little so-and-so that was in there said that they didn't take disabled babies.

Now, DS is only 4 1/2 months old. I'm not sure what everybody elses kid does at this age, but this little guy pretty much looks around, giggles, and has a quiet chat to himself. Anyone who meets him says he is one of the most chilled out little fella's they've ever met. BUT at the time he was wearing a pavlik harness for hip dysplasia (since moved to a DB brace YAY!). I was taken aback and didn't really know what to say- 'I'm sorry, it's for an hour, I'm not sure what the problem would be?'. The reply was 'Nappy changes will be too difficult'. Again, "Um, I'll only be an hour, I'm 20m away in the pool, if there's some random poo event, I can come in and change him myself". Her reply, again "I'm sorry, we don't deal with disabled babies."

Has anyone ever had to deal with this???? How did you deal with it? Like I said it was a couple of weeks ago and I'm still a bit funny about it. I've written to the management of the centre, but now I don't want to go back because they'll look at DS in a different light.

[feeb]

That is disgusting and un acceptable.

Please follow up on letter you sent. What if you were a person who did have a "disabled child" and not one who happens to be in a brace to stop a disability/problem when older, it could have tipped someone over the egde into PND.

Hugs to you xoox

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Firstly i think it is disgraceful the way that she spoke with you.. massive
Personally i haven't had to deal with it and yes i can see that there may be 'challenges' in providing care for a child with a disability or physical impairment but that does not mean they cannot make suggestions to accomodate you.
At the very least she could have said i'm sorry our policy is ........ but if you'd like to speak to a manager.
I am assuming like most leisure centres it is an every day staff member 'babysitting' and she's not wanting to do the extra work as she's not properly trained to be a carer.

Hoping the centre has the decency to respond, if not i would be taking it as high as possible just for their lack of empathy.

[*Sparklez*]

oh my gosh how rude!!!
hun. definently take it further!! how dare they judge on looks... your son isnt disabled his just having a minor set back...
and if they cant handle it they shouldnt be doing that job.. like you said its only an hr.. not a whole day
i would be upset too that is wrong..
Oh n yeyyy his obviously not disabled if his moving down the ladder of braces!! good on him a big milestone for him
it s**** me that judgement on a baby can be passed so easily just by a tiny glimpse..
BIG HUGS..

[krystals]

My feelings exactly feeb, if I did indeed, have a disabled child, I can't imagine the hurt I would be feeling. I'm more angry for all the other parents who have potentially been turned away by this person, who I sincerely hope was speaking on behalf of herself, and not the organisation for which she works. I have made a formal complaint, and if they don't acknowledge my letter, I will definitely be following it up! Thanks xxxx

[ladybird11]

Couldn't read and not respond - that it absolute cr*p! I wouldn't be returning personally / or I would be demanding to speak to a Manager.

So much for not discriminating and equal opportunity legislation!

[ezymay]

Absolutely apalling!! Def write and send that letter. GBH!!

[meow]

Oh. My. *******. God.

I can not believe someone said that!!!!! PLEASE report it to DoCS. It is completely unacceptable and needs to go further than the centre.

[MummyNaomi]

I am completely outraged for you Krystals!!!

My DS was in a Dennis Brown brace for 6 months and if that had happened to me I would have GONE TO TOWN on that carer - not that she even deserves the title of carer.

That is completely discriminatory and I would be reporting the creche to the Australian Human Rights Commission as in Australia we have anti-discrimination laws against discriminating against the disabled. Not that I would consider a baby in a corrective brace disabled anyway (I never considered my DS that way) but if this worker has said that "they dont take disabled" babies then they are surely in breach of this law. I could understand if your child needed specific medical needs that required a qualified and trained health care worker to assist, but seriously a brace?

Follow up babe, make them change their policy and make them ashamed of themselves - I'd be demanding an apology as well

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and hugs to you - you handled it much more diplomatically than I would have

[Inanna]

I am shocked. I am trying to make sense of it & to see what she could be getting at. I just dom't understand???

I am so sorry.

[krystals]

haha, MummyNaomi, I think the diplomacy was due to shock, nothing else! It was kind of that slow motion walk back to the car thinking of all the things I *should* have said on the way home!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate knowing that it wasn't in my imagination, and she was out of line.

[Catastrophic]

Wow, That is just, unacceptable.
I am so sorry you had to receive that type of *trying to think of right word*

[ellasmummy]

That is completely unacceptable, I am glad you are taking it further. From someone who does have a disabled child, if I was told that now I would just be angry and have lots to say, but my DD is 3. If someone had spoken to me and discrimated against my DD like that when she was so little it definately would have tipped me over the edge. Most creches at gyms etc won't take disabled children, but I have been told a lot more diplomaticaly than that!! plus a baby is a baby, when DD was a baby I was told they would take her at the gym etc, as it is basicly the same as having a younger child in there, even though DD was 1, ITMS?

[krysalyss]

How awful! I hope you get a good response from the manager of the centre. The general staff at our pool leave a lot to be desired too. The other day we were just about to get into the pool when the attendant blows her whistle and starts yelling "get out of the pool" in a voice like you would to someone doing something stupid. We all looked around to see who it was and realised she was yelling at everyone as she saw lightning off in the distance. Umm a bit of improvement in manners wouldn't gone astray. Anyway sorry to hijack but hopefully the person you dealt with was just a pleb and the management there will sort it out.

[briggsy's girl]

ok, so the attitude was appalling - TOTALLY appalling - BUT, a creche at a swimming pool isn't likely to be run by people with appropriate training for special needs children - so it is possibly policy that they take on no special needs children because of the potential for liability. Personally, i have no idea what to do with a child in a brace, yeah, i'd learn if i had to, but in the society in which we live (people sue over everything), if they weren't trained and took your child into care and his harness was damaged or moved by something they did, you could have a field day.

now, that sounds like i'm defending them - i'm not defending the attitude at all - the way she spoke was terrible - and the lack of follow up from management even more appalling - i'm just speaking from experience. my mum used to do FDC and had additional training so that she could take on children with additional needs (both physical and intellectual) - there was only three members of the FDC team in our whole shire (ZF can attest for how large an area that is) that had training for a looooooooong time. so they got all the children with additional needs...

[Nai]

My understanding is that a creche at a pool or gym would still need to adhere to the same standards and guidelines that other creches/childcare centres do - I know that the one I go to does and that the carers have to be trained and accredited. With this in mind most pools have swim instructors who are specifically trained to teach swimming to the disabled and the carers should be trained too. I think the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission should be getting a letter from you about this - it is disgaceful, and I daresay illegal to discriminate at that level.

[meow]

My understanding is that a creche at a pool or gym would still need to adhere to the same standards and guidelines that other creches/childcare centres do - I know that the one I go to does and that the carers have to be trained and accredited.

Same. DoCS may not be who to call in your state as Im not sure where you are. But it needs reporting. If they are accedited then call the NCAC too.

[Daytona's Mummy]

I Totally agree with Nai (well said hun)
and besides if it is their policy she was trying to adhere to, she could have said it better or atleast put it in an explanation like"I'm really sorry I wish I could but ....."
I also think it's disgusting you havn't received a reply to your letter yet, I would have thought they'd be quick to sort it out considering it IS discrimination!
If it were me, I'd be contacting my local paper, they'd be REALLY interested & maybe that would get the attention of the swimming pool place??? They'd be quick to respond with an appology then!

This treatment really irrits me, My sister has Prada Willi Syndrome and the way she was treated growing up was absolutely disgusting, I used to get so mad, & being so young myself, I never held back on letting people know! I think I used to really embarrass my mum sometimes lol!

I'm really sorry you & your little man had this happen, I really hope you get the appology you both deserve! & I hope they change their attitude quicksmart!