Comments on: Carlisle PA YMCA – Are they guilty of Discrimination? What are Your thoughts?

By: Deborah Delp

Deborah Delp — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:44:38 +0000

John,

We actual changed at home before going swimming. Here’s the thing though; the YMCA states that one must take a shower before using the pool (our activity of the day). The “family changing room” has no shower in it (and there are no showers in the pool area only the locker rooms). Actually, it isn’t even a family changing room to begin with. It’s strictly a bathroom. No locker storage for personal effects. Not even a place to sit down to change.

As to the other women being uncomfortable, yes I agree as stated above. However, there was no one in the changing room either before we went swimming or while we were changing after swimming.

By: John

John — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:06:31 +0000

this is not discrimination. I imagine it would be highly uncumfortable for a woman to have an 11 year old boy in a changing room.

if your son cannot change in the mens bathroom alone, you need to take a male with you who can go in with him, or change before you get there.

By: Deborah Delp

Deborah Delp — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:22:56 +0000

Eric,
I agree that many women would object to an 11 year old boy in the ladies changing room and that argument may have actually held some water if there was anyone in the changing room the two times we were there since oh, Christmas time. My objection doesn’t stem from that. It stems from the fact that the “family changing” room is nothing but a bathroom with a stall and sink. No locker to secure personal property and no shower which is required by the Y’s own rules in order to swim. Also no place to sit.

I stand by my position that what happened to my son was discrimination and that the Y apparently (after doing a little online research) is known for this kind of behavior. For an organization that claims to be “Christian” in it’s foundation, they certainly do not behave that way.

By: eric

eric — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:22:06 +0000

Deb, you never say how old your son JR is. Many women would not be comfortable having your son in their changing room. The world does not revolve around your son, or any group of people. It is hard for any place to accommodate everybody and their special needs. As a disabled person I accept that I am not going to get to all the wonderful vistas in Yellowstone Park. To make it accessible, safe or easy for me, would require destroying with macadam what I think is beautiful about the park. Same with putting an elevator in so disabled people can go down into the Grand Canyon. As for your son, maybe you will not be able to go swimming at the Y unless there is a male friend or his male TSS worker along with him in the male changing room. If he is capable and safe to change alone in the men’s room, you denying him this problem solution based on lurking paedophile at the Y, is irrational. Yes it can happen happen but one would never leave the house if you live your life on this possibility. Raising an autistic child is a challenge especially if a single parent. Perhaps your autism group can raise money to give to the Y to put in the type of family changing room you would like to see for your son and others. The Y is far from perfect, I object to the Y not letting gay families have family membership rates. I think you are being overly sensitive in this instance. You are trying to destroy rather than build and improve.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:12:49 +0000

I commend you on standing up for your rights as a parent of a child with autism. I often wonder about the same issue. What also are fathers to do? If my husband is to take our 9-year-old daughter, who happens to have high-functioning autism, on a shopping outting, who will accompany her to the restroom? Aren’t there any others out there who wonder about such issues? What do others do?