Boy with Down syndrome turned away from play centre because it was ‘unsuitable’

(Simone Blount/Facebook)

What was supposed to be a fun day of play turned into a heartbreaking situation for Simone Blount and her three-year-old son, Stephen.

Stephen, who has Down Syndrome and uses a wheelchair, was particularly looking forward to the Fireman Sam toys at the Mattel Play! Centre in Liverpool, England, since those are his favourite. But after lining up for 20 minutes, a staff member took one look at Stephen and said that the play centre was “unsuitable for children like him,” says Blount.

“The member of staff didn’t ask any questions about his ability or check with me to see what I thought, she just said that it was unsuitable and made an assumption based on just looking at him,” Blount tells Metro News.

What made the situation even more frustrating was that there was much younger children playing and having fun.

“I was told it wasn’t suitable for him…. yet there were babies in there…. and although Stephen is delayed cognitively and physically….. he is more developed than a baby… so it can’t be for physical/ability/health and safety/accessibility reason, it must be pure discrimination,” Blount said in a Facebook post.

While Stephen was upset about not getting to play with the other kids, his mom told him they had to leave because the centre was closing.

“How could I explain to a crying 3 year old that he wasn’t allowed in because he has Downs and that means some people will never accept him?”

In response to her complaint, Mattel issued a statement: “We would like to respond to recent online comments suggesting a young child with Down’s syndrome was turned away from Mattel Play! Liverpool. This was a case of misunderstanding, as our member of staff believed the child’s parent was enquiring about how suitable the play area was for a young baby who was unable to walk.”

Blount disputes this, saying that the staff member mistook her son in a wheelchair to be a baby in a stroller, which she says is just another form of discrimination.

“I don’t consider him disabled – the only thing that makes him disabled is places like this. I feel like I had a glimpse into his future.”