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Posted on 07/10/2020 7:04:17 PM PDT by lightman
A mother who said her “disabled” son was denied access to Hersheypark posted a video of him crying in the car, and it was a scene that picked up speed on social media like one of the tourist attraction’s iconic roller coasters.
Pamela Heinbaugh said in the 2-minute video that her son has severe asthma “so he can’t cover his face,” and is autistic. “He can‘t wear anything on his head. He can’t wear a hat. He doesn’t even like to wear shoes,” she continued, aiming her phone at his feet while continuing to film.
She also pointed out that she saw others enter the park without masks.
PennLive reached out to Heinbaugh, but she didn’t respond. Hersheypark also was contacted and emailed the following response:
“Our COVID-19 health and safety policy mandates face coverings for all guests and team members and provides an accommodation for those who can’t wear a covering by permitting use of a face shield. Everyone over the age of 2 will need to have either a face covering or face shield to enter the park. We believe this is aligned with Governor Wolf’s overarching goal to keep people safe and our own mandate to protect the health and safety of our guests and team members at Hersheypark. This policy is being applied uniformly to everyone and is an important safeguard for those who choose to work with us or honor us with a visit. Citing the public health priority, this position has also been viewed favorably by the external autism, disability and accessibility agencies with which we work.
“Our policy is meant to protect the health and safety of all of our guests and team members at Hersheypark. It is being followed by many of our peers in the amusement park industry and is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which allows businesses to impose legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operations when a direct threat, like COVID-19, has been established.
“We understand and appreciate the perspective and concerns of our guests, and we have an established record of offering a safe and welcoming environment for all those who visit Hersheypark. Being inclusive and welcoming is incredibly important to us. To that end, if there’s anything we can do to help a guest with our policy, we are eager to assist in any way that we are able.”
SUCK IT [your CO2 exhale] UP!
Pennsylvania Ping!
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Sorry, I agree with the park. Sounds to me like this kid has so many problems he probably shouldn’t be there. Can’t wear shoes? Please.
I wonder if the mother has anything to do with the kid’s condition.
yeah there’s something wrong about that
A year ago or so I came across on-line information about a large-scale amusement park in Texas that was closed (might have been AstroWorld).
One of the reasons given by the owners was an increase in “unruly guests.”
Kid does not need to go there unless/ until he can handle shoes, etc. even then he will probably suffer sensory overload and will not enjoy himself.
Houston’s finest blacks and brownies.
He is autistic, his behaviour is typical of some people who have autism....My son does not like headphones, hats, or sunglasses..For a while, he did not want to wear socks or shoes, and yes, he has autism...It’s unfortunate that mom did not call the park ahead of time to ask whether they would have to wear a mask...And to those who would say keep your kid at home, how are they to learn to behave in public if they stay cooped up at home.
My DiL works with autistic children. They are very sensitive to a lot of different types of stimulation. Often they have difficulty with clothing like shoes or even having their hair combed. That said, they may respond to certain park rides that you would think they couldn’t tolerate.
I think it’s “Wally World”, actually; Chevy Chase was in a documentary about that.
What is the reason they have “disabled” in quotes? They don’t believe her?
On the surface, I have to side with the mom.
What happened to the “medical waiver” for such things?
Maybe she should’ve had one, but it sounds like it doesn’t matter to them.
Milton Hershey’s been rolling in his grave since he died, and before with that union nonsense.
The mother caters to and spoils this kid based on his ailments. She amplifies his disabilities and makes them out to be more than they are. She gains sympathy and attention through her son’s misfortune.
I’m not a psychiatrist, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once, back when we used to be able to stay in hotels without the constant, unfounded, irrational fear of dying because of it.
Also, I live with a similar, though not so severe, situation in my own life.
sadly save your breath a whole bunch of a$$holes here could not care less.
if the kid was carrying a Black Lives Matter sign. no mask no problem
Yes. I see it at my school. There is genuine autism & there’s also what I like to call environmental & cultural autism.
All animals are equal, but....
I was acquainted with a man who did product demos for a wonderful regional grocery chain here. He grew up in Milton Hershey’s orphanage, and worshipped the ground Hershey walked on.
Once, Wal Mart offered him the opportunity to do a HUGE Hershey product demo, and he agreed, but said there was no way he would accept any payment for it. I don’t know what they eventually worked out.
I stand with the family exaggerated explanation or not.
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