Rage, Tears, and a Boy named Bede

6th September 2012

Link reblogged from Antony Johnston with 77 notes

Rage, Tears, and a Boy named Bede →

ruckawriter:

I’m the middle of three children. My older sister has a trisomy of the 21st chromosome. This means she has Down’s. I grew up with the ignorance, stupidity, and fear surrounding her, and I see it again every time I’m with her.

This story blows my mind. This story makes me so angry I have tears in my eyes.

From the CNN story linked here (and I checked, this story has been picked up by other outlets, mostly local):

“The airline said that out of concern for Bede’s safety and the safety of other passengers, it decided the family would have to take a later flight.

Under the federal Air Carrier Access Act, which requires airlines make accommodations for people with disabilities, airlines can refuse to fly a passenger who might pose a safety threat to the plane or other passengers, but they cannot make generalizations about disabilities or prevent someone from flying simply because of a disability.”

Boldface mine.

Just to make this clear: the family spent their money on a service provided by the airline, that is, they paid to fly in first class, and they were denied this service because some ignorant coward was frightened by a 16 year old boy with Down’s? They were afraid he’d be disruption?

Or was it that the rest of first class didn’t want to look at him? They were afraid he might make noise? Like, maybe, talk? This kid was a threat? Look at him in the video.

I hope the people responsible for this burn hot and long.

Awful. And for heaven’s sake, DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS. So much hatred and ignorance.

Source: ruckawriter

Another Way To Breathe

Rage, Tears, and a Boy named Bede →