A local store near me (in St. Louis) has made some pretty public news in my area and it is starting to float around Facebook. I am going to post the original post from a mother whose child was discriminated against. I found this originally from a friend of mine who is related to the mother.
Today my 4 year old son and I were asked …to leave a store because he walks with a walker. He has cerebral palsy and needs the walker to be independent. Kay Wallace, owner of F O B Designs in Lamp and Lantern Village, does not believe that he should be allowed to shop in her store. Within a minute of our arrival she approached us and told me that her aisles were narrow and he could possibly run into something. I told her that he would be fine and careful. She gave me an incensed look as if to say, “clearly you don’t understand what I am trying to say.” After a few more comments about why he should not be there, she looked me directly in the eyes and said that he would be better served elsewhere. My heart sank. My temper rose! I looked at Carter’s happy little face and asked if she was discriminating against him because he was disabled. She said he would be better served elsewhere and that she was worried about his safety…her insurance would not cover the costs of any accidents! i told her that as his mom, I was certain that he was perfectly safe. She again told me in a very condescending way that she believed her store was not suitable for him and when I again asked if she was discriminating against him she said that I was just angry and could not be made happy and maybe I should shop elsewhere, too!! I could not believe that in this day and age of acceptance, inclusion and education that she could be so insensitive and prejudice. People with disabilities have the right to participate fully and equally in all aspects of society, including shopping for furniture! It is essential that we change these barbaric attitudes and perceptions about people living with disabilities. Does she know how much courage, heart and determination it takes for Carter to walk into her store with his head held high and a smile on his face? Does she know how much effort it took him JUST to walk down the street and over the threshold into her store? On several occasions during our conversation she stated that I was just angry. Of course I was angry…she just told me that my 4 year old son was not welcome in her store! I am also angry that she insinuated that I was angry because my son has a disability. Carter is the most amazing kid I have ever known and I am lucky to be his mom. Kay Wallace of F O B Design of St. Louis should be ashamed of herself. If you agree that Kay Wallace demonstrated behavior that was unethical and unacceptable please repost and do not shop at her store or the stores of other people sharing her attitude toward people with disabilities!! Thanks for all of your support…
It is so sad to me that this can happen in our world. It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone can treat people this way but it hurts me even more that it was a child being told they weren’t good enough to be there. It is just disgusting to me. You can help with this cause and I would love for you all to take a stand with me. I have never been to this store and because of the treatment of Carter, I never will.
You can help by joining the cause to boycott the F.O.B. Saint Louis store. Even if you don’t live here, I encourage you to like the boycott page on Facebook to show your support of this family. I hope justice is served for little Carter.
That’s not so fair on her path. So shocking that there are ppl so heartless. Am unable to comment on fb the link is not working.
I watched the video and am still glad this was posted on this site as well as my site. I think the Mother summed it up best by saying that people with disabilities should be allowed a full life, treated with respect, and be able to go where all other people are allowed to go. She also stated that she wants people with disabilities to have a positive spotlight on them.
I could not comment on the KMOV story because I wasn’t keen to give them access to my Facebook account. But my question is how a store in St. Louis could operate like that with no regard for ADA guidelines. I saw the video and could tell that the displays wouldn’t be within ADA standards. And if a child sized walker had trouble getting through, any other type of wheelchair or walker would have trouble. When I was in college and during summers between teaching years, I worked retail. We always had to have a specific amount of space between each display and had to keep clear aisles in order to comply with ADA laws. I also worked in a used bookstore, and was just waiting for someone to come in an report us because we had two levels that were only accessible by stairs, and thus not ADA compatible.
Someone should check into this and see if there is some type of legal action that can be taken, not for vengeance, but to protect all shoppers. (not to mention that it would also help the owner not be such a curmudgeon when it comes to welcoming everyone to her store)
Everyone who has posted here against this store needs to watch the video of the mother and then work retail for awhile. First, in the mother’s own words, no one told her to leave the store. It was “implied”, she said. Second, a 4-year old, disbaled or not, is like a bull in a China shop. For the mother to say that he would have been careful is stupid. 4-year olds are not careful!!! The owner had a sign stating no strollers, so what did mom think she was going to hear? Second, those who have worked retail for years have encountered the lazy parenting that is out there countless times. Parents don’t watch their kids in stores, and when their kid breaks something they shouldn’t have been toughing to begin with, parents don’t even have the courtesy to offer to pay. It’s not your stuff, and when your kid breaks it, you get to pay for it!!! Natalie’s post on February 12th said everything perfectly-kids break things. Yes they do, but they wouldn’t if parents did their jobs. Why should the owner have to insure against other people’s children breaking things? Here’s a thought that would shock most of you-when your kid breaks something, you pay for it! It is automatically your fault for not watching your child, so you cough up the money, why should the owner have to insure against your kids? Ridiculous!!!
This is so shocking, I hope that government would make something about this problem and the like from arising again. Have some heart people this is not a mere joke let us take this seriously.
Thanks for stopping by and supporting this family.
Terrible that they experienced this. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that the store owner learns from this experience on what she could have done differently. Thanks for giving us the heads up on this Stefany.
Thanks for stopping by Robyn. I hope she has learned from this too.
I commend you for standing up to this woman.
I have one other thing to say: Americans with Disabilities Act. Know your rights…
As a disabled person, I have experienced a fair amount of discrimination in the workplace. Quoting the Americans with Disability Act pretty much has always shut down people who are trying to discriminate against me.
Good for you for standing up for yourself Mike. I hope everyone learns to do that!
That is so sad. She was obviously born without a heart!
I know Debby. My heart hurts for this family.
that’s so wrong, wrong, wrong. i hope that woman gets eaten for lunch tomorrow.
I think this is her first day open since the incident. I am curious if she will make an apology or anything.
This is just awful and heartbreaking.
I know. It breaks my heart.
I shared on my facebook. This mother should contact the ACLU in her area or Human Rights Watch. They will take a stand against discrimination.
Thanks for sharing Linda!
I agree with Jen, if a person with a wheelchair, cane or anything came in would she do the same thing, I’m sure it was more because he was a child I hope and not because he was with a walker.I could see the child angle , kids break things but she should have insurance ! She could walk by something and break it! What a disgrace I would never go in her store ,
Hope that mother never has to deal with that again,
It is so sad, isn’t it? Thanks for commenting and supporting this family.
It seems stories of discrimination are becoming more common. I’ve had my fill. This story SCREAMS to be retold. I am posting this on my blog too. My heart goes out to this Mother and I hope her son didn’t understand why they had to leave. I also liked the Facebook page and listed it as a favorite on my blog Facebook page.
Thanks Ericka!
I do not have a FB account so I cannot comment on the fb page linked. However, Kay Wallace should be ashamed of her behavior. Instead of asking this mother and child to leave she should have been asking how she could accommadate them so that they may continue to shop. If her aisles are too crowded that a person with a disability cannot get through, then she should reorganize her shop. Would she have asked an overweight person to leave because they “might” cause an accident? This woman needs to take a step into reality. Kay’s decision to ask this family to leave will cost her and her business. I would be happy to pass this on to all my friends in St. Louis so that she feels the pain of being discriminated against just like this little boy and his mother did. Unbelievable.
It is just horrible. You aren’t on Facebook anymore??? Sadness. Thanks for sharing this post or the facebook page Jen.