The Equality Tribunal found that A Youth and Community Service Centre discriminated against a child with a disability by refusing to enrol him for the second week of its 2010 summer camp without an assistant. It ordered the centre to pay €1,500 and review its admissions policy and staff training.
The decision was dated 15 August 2012. A parent brought the complaint on her son’s behalf after he had attended the camp in earlier years with support. She said she and his autism therapist believed he could manage without an assistant.
The centre said it relied on the HSE to assess children’s support needs and had not received written confirmation that he could attend without assistance. The Equality Officer found the parent was best placed to assess whether her son needed help. The centre could not assume that he did, and children without disabilities could enrol for both weeks without that requirement.
The officer found the centre had treated him less favourably because of his disability. The €1,500 compensation was for the discriminatory treatment and the distress and upset he experienced. The centre was also ordered to review its admissions policies for people with disabilities and train staff on the Equal Status Acts.