5 replies to this topic

[Survivor35]

Okay, maybe I am being unreasonable with this, but I am upset and need a good gripe. My 7 year old daughter has been invited to her first school Skate Nite, and we have both been looking really forward to it.
However, when I called just to see how accessible they are, and to explain my situation, they informed me that of course the building is accessible, but if I attempt to get on their skate rink, they will have to ask me to leave. They say that this is a safety risk for the other children, and she said, Well, sweetie, there will be lots of other children here that will be able to help your daughter, but you will simply not be allowed.
Is it just me, or is this somewhat unfair? Its not like I will be barreling around the rink, wiping kids out... I just want her to hold onto the bar on the back of my chair that way I can help her learn how to skate.... And, what if there was a child in her class in a wheelchair that simply wanted to be involved with the other children? Would they inform that child that while they could come and watch, they would not be allowed to join in? It just seems really unfair to me. Opinions, anyone?

[Adams]

I have to say, I agree with you. WTF!!!

Aparently you're not allowed to have fun. I'm not sure I'd call it discrimantion per se, but it's something. I'm pretty fuming just thinking about it.

God!!! We're not able to do so much stuff we want to do and than when there's something you want to do that is out of the ordinary, the world up and takes it away from you.

I say, kudos for you to wanting to do that. I think you should just go and don't ask. I iguarantee they would not say anything

Good luck

I fell you pain

Edited by Adams, 19 January 2007 - 08:30 PM.

[Jilly]

Well..I think that sucks!!

As an ab parent...it wouldnt worry me in the slightest to see a chair on the rink. What a brilliant way to teach a kid to skate! As far as I can see it would be far safer than holding their hand with skates on yourself and risk them pullng you over too!

You are disabled yourself - you arent going to go around causing accidents in anyone else...especially kids! Grrrr....

[wheelinPEACE]

You are the coolest!!! I never thought of gettin in the rink in my chair. We have wheels, so why not?? I took my son to a birthday party at the skating rink and could not get him to go out on the rink, but I bet if I could of went out there he would of. I think we should protest. wheels are wheels. Maybe you can call and schedule a time for you and your daughter to go out there and you can teach her how to skate. They shouldn't have a problem with you gettin in/on the rink if they are not crowded. They'll probably say your wheels will mess up the floor, but I think thats just stupid.

Dang,Survivor 35, I cant get over this......you are the coolest. I'm proud, amazed, shocked, happy, and envious of the fact that you wanted to get in/on the rink. I would do it for my son, but that would be the only way....unless I was drunk.lol

I think that you should fight this. Don't let them keep you from enjoyin this experience with your daughter.

[brackman22]

I understand the rink prohibiting you from going on the floor. It's a skating rink. You out on the floor will be a distraction. Kids will not pay as much attention to what they are doing. The odds that someone will get injured because of your chair are probably low. But the overall odds of injury would increase if you were on the floor. If I owned the rink, I would not let you skate. Today's society is too litigious for me to take the risk.

I would love for you to be able to help your daughter learn to skate or even have fun skating with her and her friends. I am an assitant cubmaster with the cubscouts. We no longer have a skating rink in town but up until it closed a couple of years ago, we would rent it out once a year or so. I have an electric wc and had a blast out on the floor with the boys. I could tow probably 15 boys once I got going. But I will also say that more butts hit the floor because of me. We all (parents, cubmaster) knew that might happen. I was a distraction. The key is that the boy scouts of america was the liable party, not the rink. If there is anything you can do to get out there and skate with your girl, do it. I just wouldn't be mad at the rink.

The question about the hypothetical wc girl...I would say no again. There are many things schools do that disabled children (mentally. physically whatever) will not be able to participate in. In the traditional fashion. Not even limiting it to disability: We have kids that may be to short, fat, tone-deaf, slow.

BRETT

[Tinbasher]

Survivor35, on Jan 19 2007, 06:04 PM, said:

Opinions, anyone?

Look at this... http://www.bbc.co.uk...107_index.shtml

T