A brand new coverage at a Legoland park within the U.Okay. has many households outraged. As per the brand new rule, childless adults (anybody over the age of 16 who’s unaccompanied by a toddler) wouldn’t be permitted entry into the park.
The coverage was put in place to guard kids, nevertheless, households of adults who wrestle with psychological disabilities are slamming it as “discrimination.”
A mother of a person with an mental incapacity needs her son to be allowed in Legoland regardless of the ban on childless adults.
40-year-old Simon Thomas, who has cerebral palsy and autism, was gifted an annual go to the Legoland Discovery Middle within the Trafford Centre by his 41-year-old sister, Paula. The lady defined her brother’s situation to the workers when buying the go.
Nevertheless, after seven months of weekly visits the place Simon was accompanied by an grownup caretaker, he was advised he would not be capable to renew his go the next yr because of the new coverage. He was as a substitute supplied a go for various venues run by guardian group Merlin Sights elsewhere within the UK. Moreover, Simon’s household was now required to e mail the park earlier than he visited utilizing the remaining 5 months on his go.
His household argued that the brand new rule was unfair and discriminatory towards these with psychological disabilities, and so they weren’t the one ones affected by the coverage.
20-year-old Anthony Lewis, who has Williams Syndrome and the psychological capability of a six-year-old, was turned away whereas visiting the park together with his caretaker. His mom, Elaine Lewis, slammed the childless grownup coverage as impractical.
“Anthony can not entry the neighborhood with out the assistance of a assist employee,” she defined. “To say that he can solely go in with a toddler, it doesn’t make sense. He’s not able to taking care of himself. If he went in with a toddler who can be not able to taking care of themselves, who would take care of them?”
Elaine shares that her son got here dwelling “distressed” and “upset” and that Legoland workers had been impolite to him when he and his caretaker tried to enter the park. The mom tried to contact Legoland thrice and acquired no response. She slammed the corporate for its poor communication efforts and begged them to rethink their new coverage.
“Adults with studying disabilities are actually simply kids in grownup our bodies,” she argues. “Why can’t they entry one thing just like the Legoland Discovery Middle?” Elaine says that Anthony “simply needs to go and play with the Legos and have a look at the fashions” and doesn’t pose a menace to any friends visiting the park.
Legoland defended its coverage, claiming that it was enacted to ‘preserve a welcoming setting for our younger guests.’
A spokesperson issued a press release explaining why the brand new coverage was enforced. “Our coverage to not allow entry to teams of adults, grownup {couples}, or lone adults, no matter circumstances, who usually are not accompanied by a toddler or kids underneath the age of 16 is we imagine due to this fact applicable and one of the simplest ways to continually preserve a welcoming setting for our younger guests,” he stated. “We make no apologies for this coverage and imagine it to be affordable and applicable, and one on which we make no exceptions.”
Whereas childless adults couldn’t entry the park throughout the day, the spokesperson shared that they’re open for adults throughout night hours. “That stated, we additionally very a lot respect the persevering with attraction that Lego has for all ages, and it has by no means been our intention to disclaim entry to our grownup followers or trigger misery to anybody. That’s the reason we usually host night occasions particularly for adults with a purpose to showcase particular points of interest throughout the middle and these are very nicely attended.”
Over 7,000 folks signed a petition demanding that Legoland change its coverage to permit folks of all ages throughout daytime hours.
Whereas Legoland was assured in its determination and new rule, many individuals have been nonetheless dissatisfied. Elaine Lewis launched a petition on Change.org urging Legoland to rethink the brand new coverage.
“As a guardian you need your little one to expertise as a lot as doable, this goes for all kids however particularly the disabled ones as some are solely with us for a short while,” she wrote. “My son and his carer have been refused entry on the grounds of kid security, it’s him that wants defending from ignorance and prejudice.”
Over 7,000 folks signed the petition in assist of Elaine, Anthony, and the entire different disabled adults who have been being discriminated towards by the brand new rule.
As of right now, the coverage has remained the identical. “Adults should be accompanied by kids to enter LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. A lot of the attraction is designed for little ones,” the Legoland Discovery Middle’s web site reads. “We respect that adults love LEGO too and host unique grownup nights for our Grownup Followers of LEGO with out kids.”
Megan Quinn is a author at YourTango who covers leisure and information, self, love, and relationships.
