Apple’s decision to ban people who aren’t able to wear face coverings in their store has left an Aberdeen father and son sickened and a legal firm planning to take the company to court.
Tom Wade was turned away from the Union Square store even though he is exempt from the rule because he has autism.
The 21-year-old was trying to get his phone fixed but door staff wouldn’t let him in the shop, despite explaining his position to them.
At the time Mr Wade was wearing a sunflower lanyard which acts as a reminder to people that the person wearing it has a hidden disability.
The Disability Law Centre is advancing multiple complaints against the Apple Store nationwide for “discriminating against people with disabilities”.
Principal solicitor at the Law Centre, Daniel Donaldson, said: “I can’t believe this is 21st century Scotland – this is happening now.
“I have repeatedly asked for risk assessments that have informed their decision but they have refused to share these.
“The Equality Act is clear. It is unlawful disability discrimination to refuse a service to a person with disabilities.
“It is also unlawful disability discrimination to harass someone for example by demanding to know intimate details of their medical background.
Scottish government guidelines state those exempt from wearing a face covering should not be “denied access to public transport, shops or public places”.
Mr Wade said: “It makes me feel sick to know that I get discriminated against in a shop that I need to go into and use a lot.
“This has really affected my confidence and my efforts to be independent.
“It makes me upset that people that don’t look disabled get discriminated against. If I looked disabled they wouldn’t even have asked.”
His father, Gary Wade, who is one of the directors of Grampian Autistic Society, has hit out at the phone giant for “being discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010”.
He added: “Tom phoned me quite upset so I phoned and asked to speak to the manager.
“As far as Apple are concerned they are protecting staff and not discriminating against a disability.
“The manager did ask if he was offered a visor instead and he wasn’t. He was just turned away.
“What people don’t realise is that it takes a number of years and support to get someone confident enough to go out on their own to shops and on public transport.
“That’s now a huge knock to his confidence. He doesn’t particularly want to wear a sunflower lanyard and label himself but he does.”
Apple declined to comment, but their guidelines say they will offer reasonable alternatives to customers who are unable to wear a face due to existing medical conditions.
This includes serving customers at the store front, serving them digitally or offering customers temporary use of a face shield while in store.
