Royal Bank of Scotland loses disability case
In a landmark case that will change the way the disabled are treated in England, an 18 year old man tried to get the bank to modify their entryway so that he could use the bank from his wheelchair. After refusing to fix the problem, David Allen was forced to sue the bank in that the bank violated his rights under the Disability Discrimination Act which states that companies must make reasonable adjustments so that the disabled have the same access as those that are able bodied. The bank fought the case and lost not only this case, but a case that awarded Mr. Allen money and the refusal of moving the case to the Supreme Court. The company said that they had sent a letter saying that the were sorry for the inconvenience but he could do Internet banking from home so they didn’t need to do anything. Mr. Allen did not open an Internet account because he wanted face to face interaction with the bankers and did not want to be a prisoner in his home because the bank would not allow him in to do his banking. Three judges agreed and awarded Mr. Allen money for the violation of his civil rights, the bank has to pay for a ramp fore wheelchairs, and they have to pay for all legal costs. The bank still thinks that the letter they sent explaining how sorry they were was enough and the whole thing was over blown. However, this is a landmark case that will be used by others who have had their civil rights violated by companies that refuse to make their businesses open to the disabled. (Source: Times Online)
It is good to see that bills passed by the government to help the disabled are working as the Americans for Disabilities Act is working in the US. For years the disabled have been forced to live with the fact that the cannot shop or go to restaurants merely because they are in a wheelchair and the company does not want to put in a ramp or elevator. With this act, companies will need to take notice when a disabled person asks for help. It is obvious from the callous remarks by the bank that a mere letter is supposed to make a disabled person feel better that they should really be stuck at home on the Internet instead out with the rest of those that live in society. We are proud that Mr. Allen was courageous enough to take on a large entity as the Royal Bank of Scotland which was money, lawyers, and resources to try and bully these types of lawsuits. Everyone deserves to be out in public and to do everything that an able bodied person could normally do. We can’t stop shopping for food, banking, going to school, work or any of a wide variety of things that all people should have access to.
This case underlines the importance of these acts and laws that protect the disabled from those that hate them and are callous to what it takes to get around in a wheelchair. It is very difficult to get around in a city with a wheelchair only to find that the bank won’t let you in to do your business with them. Large companies in the US must have disability coordinators to work with the disabled so that companies don’t get into situations like this poor gentleman ran into. Lets hope that the disability act in England will be adjusted in the same way so that we don’t have managers and lawyers making stupid decisions merely because they want a interview room or feel that there are not enough disabled customers to make it worthwhile to them. Disabled people put up with enough just in life’s issues with being stuck in a wheelchair and the pain and suffering associated with medical issues without having to deal with idiots that take our money to stay in business. It takes a lot of gall to tell us that you really don’t want us around, but boy keep on sending your money to us.
The notoriety of this case will also let businesses know that if they do not follow the law they will be taken to task and made to do the right thing. The bank as fully willing to go to the Supreme Court so they wouldn’t have to put in a wheelchair ramp. Fortunately the three judges saw through their scam and stopped the case from moving farther up the court chain. This is a good day for those that work hard to help the disabled.
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