Teen with Down syndrome stopped from boarding plane

[alp227]

Source: CNN

Two California parents say their 16-year-old son was stopped from getting on an American Airlines flight because he has Down syndrome.

Joan and Robert Vanderhorst say the boy, Bede, was set to fly with them from Newark, New Jersey, to Los Angeles on Sunday when the pilot told them the boy could not fly.

"We were not allowed on the plane because this man saw my son and made a decision," Joan Vanderhorst told CNN affiliate KTLA. "This little boy had a seat in first class and for some reason that wasn't acceptable."

"The young man was agitated and running around the gate area prior to boarding," American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said in a written statement. "Our pilot noticed and asked a customer service manager to talk to the family to see if we could help him calm down and get better acclimated to the situation. That effort was ultimately unsuccessful."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/travel/airline-down-syndrome/index.html

[kestrel91316]

1. He wasn't stopped because he has Down Syndrome, he was stopped because of his

uncontrollable behavior, which is a legitimate safety issue, especially if he is the size of the average 16 yo boy and out of control.

JMHO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. +1

[atreides1]

2. It's amazing

Was reading some of the replies to this story...talk about some cold hearted ass hats!


Just reinforces the fact that my dog has more human compassion and empathy then most humans!!

[hollysmom]

3. figures it was Newark - the worst TSA people anywhere

15 minutes away and I fly out of other airports - got tired of being felt up by the TSA people. One made me sit down and take off my shoes and started massaging my feet and looking at them very closely, was afraid he was going to lick them.

[Sivafae]

4. People with Down syndrome may be active, but usually not in a way that is dangerous in the

operation of a plane. This whole incident reeks of prejudice and ignorance.

[eqfan592]

8. Were you there?

Can you vouch for exactly what sort of behavior was on display by the boy in question? I'm not saying you are absolutely wrong, but there is simply not enough information available to jump to the conclusion you are here.

[JI7]

9. there was some video taken and none of the others boarding the plane complained

[xtraxritical]

13. I will respect the pilot's judgment over all opinions here.

[penndragon69]

5. The Pilot was correct!

He was NOT judging the boy for his illness but rather on his unpredictable behavior.

You don't want anyone suddenly running up and trying to open the cabin door
to watch the people flying or worse, he pulls the lever on the main door.

You never know what a mentally challenged person will do when they get agitated.

Good for the TSA !

[eqfan592]

7. This wasn't TSA's doing.

It was the pilots call.

[Butterbean]

12. "You never know what a mentally challenged person will do when they get agitated"...????

Gross. That really made my stomach churn. Yes, those icky, yucky, scary mentally challenged people should all be kept out of sight of society and locked away because of their unpredictable, violent behavior.

He was with his parents. His parents know him a hell of a lot better than some pilot making a snap judgment, I guarantee you that. I also guarantee you his parents probably know his subtle cues and signs and have a damned good handle on how to head off trouble with his behavior.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand THIS would be why I always carry my autism awareness business cards in my pocket whenever we're away from home base. You never know, even in 2012, when you're going to run into an ignorant jackass.

[xtraxritical]

14. "You never know, even in 2012, when you're going to run into an ignorant jackass." Yeah, just now.

[xtraxritical]

22. I will always defer to the pilot and not hysterical mothers.

[Ken Burch]

18. The poster does, however, make a great case

for keeping Republican politicians off of commercial aircraft.

[Ash_F]

27. His parents are not the ultimate arbiter in all matters involving their son.

I understand that there is ignorance towards the handicapped in this country. I get that this issue affects you and you are very sensitive about it. But that doesn't make you the ultimate expert and decider. The same is true for this child's parents.

[Scairp]

20. Downs is NOT an illness

Another voice from the ignorant and uninformed section of society. You never know what the ignorant and ill-informed will do. They could make super ridiculous comments and call a chromosomal defect an illness. Or accuse persons mentally challenged of being unpredictable. Scary indeed. Don't let them fly. They might tackle a kid with cystic fibrosis should the child begin to cough uncontrollably. You never know, the kid could be a walking WMD designed to infect the entire plane with...something.

[snooper2]

6. Why are some replies to this OP talking about the TSA..

do people even read anymore, or they just don't understand how airports work LOL


You go to the airport..

You get your tickety and checky your baggy
THEN you go through security (TSA) checkpoint to enter main airport terminals and gates-

This family was already at their gate waiting to board the plane..

Nothing to do with TSA..but people can't read..shit, do people just read the headline of the OP now and not even the body? Much less clicky on the article LOL...

LAZY called, she wants the couch back

[JI7]

10. it is believed that they didn't think those in First Class should have the kid around

if it wasn't first class it may not have been an issue.

[hollysmom]

11. Yes, this family was flying back home and up graded to first class for the first time

It was the pilot that complained, but the video just showed a kid sitting in a chair chewing a hat - not out of control as the airport claimed. They said he was not allowed because he could not be calmed down - looked pretty calm to me.

[Ken Burch]

19. God forbid "our betters" have to see any instance of human non-perfection.

It would traumatize the poor things.

[Blue_Tires]

15. read the pilots' discussion here...

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5556148/#menu102

[Nine]

16. The airline has one story, the family has another.

So far only the family has presented video evidence to support its story. I think the burden of proof is on the airline to prove its version, either now or in a court of law.

[justice1]

21. Two airlines discriminated against the boy in the same day? Highly unlikely

Having worked for both, they would fire an employee immediately if they were found to discriminate against a passenger. American's response that they would rebook on the next flight, to let him calm down, would be standard protocol.

As far as United, putting them at the back of the plane, that's typical with any group of 3, that you are trying to sit together, getting tickets on a popular route, at the last minute. Those are the last seats to be taken by passengers, that have already checked in.

What I have seen, is about 15 seconds of footage, showing the kid playing with his hat, after they were denied boarding. That doesn't prove anything, one way, or the other.

[patob]

23. The only evidence we have supports the family's story

First: AA said he could not be calmed down. The video taken as passengers were boarding the plane is proof this was not true, since he was calm. Second, AA said he was agitated, yelling and running. People with Down Syndrome have a hard time running due to low muscle tone, and balance issues to start with. His additional weight puts this issue over the top. It is not credible that he was running. Finally if he was really so unpredictable (and where is the evidence for this rather than mere prejudice?) then why would they put him on another flight?

The onus is on AA to prove that there was no discrimination for very good reasons. They could do this with either video or unbiased witnesses--silence in this matter further suggests guilt. To top it off, when the family were put on the United flight they were given row 25 but at the last minute given row 27 even though rows 25 and 26 were empty. Then, when other passengers tried to spread out to sit in rows 25/26 they were told no one could sit there, effectively isolating the family. (Has DS become communicable?)

If AA has credible evidence, they should release it. Their word at this point is not good enough given some of the points mentioned above. This would not have been such a big deal if AA had either given evidence to support their point or apologized/made amends. Jerks are everywhere. Employers cannot micromanage employees every second. We understand that, but their responses, particularly saying it was for the safety of the boy...I don't have words to express my disappointment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. I've taught quite a few kids with DS

And yes, they do run. And they don't stop. They can be huge safety risks.

[justice1]

26. Are you kidding me? This is Newark

The motto is" get them the fuck out of here,before we are slapped with an ATC. "

If United missed the time that they had to release breaks, by allowing passengers to switch seats, it means several people might not make their connections, because they have to go to the back of the line.

Your trying to make this about down syndrome, airlines deal with this type of situation everyday. You have to think of the group. People don't fly because they want to, they fly because they have to. They are going to funerals, job interviews, etc... The goal is always to inconvenience as few passengers as possible, and it sounds like both airlines did that.