Interesting Autism Debate

[Darran]

In Tesco Briton Ferry over the weekend a woman with an autistic son who refuses to wear shoes went shopping.
The little boy was walking around the store bare footed and the manager asked the woman to put something on his feet or leave the store.

Was the manager right or wrong?

 

[Professor]

Unless the child is causing a risk to others then i don’t see an issue as long as the family waive the right to any redress for injury to the boy’s feet. The child will be unable to modify their behaviour as I can attest. Albeit my son does not exhibit more extreme behaviour like this.

 

[Darran]

Unless the child is causing a risk to others then i don’t see an issue as long as the family waive the right to any redress for injury to the boy’s feet. The child will be unable to modify their behaviour as I can attest. Albeit my son does not exhibit more extreme behaviour like this.

By all accounts part of the managers issue was the child getting hurt inside the store.

 

[Professor]

Wonder if that would also break disability laws in failing to provide reasonable provision.

 

[Darran]

Wonder if that would also break disability laws in failing to provide reasonable provision.

Apparently it’s being looked into and the mother is taking it to head office.

 

[JustJack]

There shouldn't be anything on the floor that would hurt their feet, the shop should be clean

Asking them to leave the store is not acceptable, just a polite word of warning and concern would be enough

 

[Itchysphincter]

In Tesco Briton Ferry over the weekend a woman with an autistic son who refuses to wear shoes went shopping.
The little boy was walking around the store bare footed and the manager asked the woman to put something on his feet or leave the store.

Was the manager right or wrong?

I have not read any other answers yet as I don’t want to be influenced by reasoning, but, the manager needs to go give his head a wobble. Autistic or not.

Now I’m prepared for everyone saying the kid should be in a helmet and steel toe caps in case he hurts himself, but we’re not Planet Outrage here, are we?

 

[Fireboy]

In Tesco Briton Ferry over the weekend a woman with an autistic son who refuses to wear shoes went shopping.
The little boy was walking around the store bare footed and the manager asked the woman to put something on his feet or leave the store.

Was the manager right or wrong?

I have not read any other answers yet as I don’t want to be influenced by reasoning, but, the manager needs to go give his head a wobble. Autistic or not.

Now I’m prepared for everyone saying the kid should be in a helmet and steel toe caps in case he hurts himself, but we’re not Planet Outrage here, are we?

Spot on itchy, the world has gone mad, surely the manager would tell the mother to look after her boy, which she probably does anyway.

 

[Darran]

If I hear anymore I shall pass it on.

 

[Skippyjack]

The boy doesn't like shoes, the manager doesn't like people without shoes.. maybe the manager is the autistic one.

Food for thought, a double edged conundrum.

These manager types are on the spectrum anyway, the majority of managers are autistic, lacking common sense and a bit of a brain the halfwits. My cousin is autistic, a proper autistic, not a half hearted when it suits them autistic etc

 

[Squarebear]

Assuming neither mother or manager have communication difficulties it is a bit disappointing that they couldn't sort this out without incident.

 

[dickythorpe]

In an ideal world the boy is free to not wear anything on his feet.
However "what if" the boy slipped on a spilt bottle of milk that 'Ethel aged 86" from Baglan dropped?
"What if" "Bryn aged 78" from Coelbren dropped a jar of Tiptree strawberry conserve and the boy stood in the broken glass?

You see "HEALTH AND SAFETY" and the liability lies with the store manager.
He/She will get it in the neck for not advising customers to be careful.
The "OCCUPIERS LIABILITY" ACT is at play here to.
Poor boy , poor mother, poor manager.

No one wins here.

 

[J_B]

Ethel and Bryn should be banned. They’re bloody menaces.

 

[Muteswan]

In an ideal world the boy is free to not wear anything on his feet.
However "what if" the boy slipped on a spilt bottle of milk that 'Ethel aged 86" from Baglan dropped?
"What if" "Bryn aged 78" from Coelbren dropped a jar of Tiptree strawberry conserve and the boy stood in the broken glass?

You see "HEALTH AND SAFETY" and the liability lies with the store manager.
He/She will get it in the neck for not advising customers to be careful.
The "OCCUPIERS LIABILITY" ACT is at play here to.
Poor boy , poor mother, poor manager.

No one wins here.

Well put Dicky. I have a son with an autism spectrum disorder (formally called Aspergers) and also owned a business myself, and can understand both sides of the dilemma. As previously said, it needs to be handled in a sensitive and sensible way initially and both parties should try to have some appreciation of the other’s situation.

 

[ThurrockJack]

Caan see where the manager may be coming from in terms of risk of liability should the kid get hurt, but generally can't see a problem with the kid going barefoot, unless his feet stink of course.