Safari Park Refunds Fees After Charging Assistants for Disabled Children
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Israel's Safari Park refunded fees charged to assistants of disabled children after the Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities intervened. The park cited a booking staff misunderstanding and has updated its procedures to ensure such entitlements are recognized.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Safari Park refunded fees charged to assistants of disabled children.
- The Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities intervened.
- The park cited a staff misunderstanding and updated procedures.
- The incident highlights ongoing transportation issues for disabled students.
The Safari Park in Israel has refunded money charged to assistants accompanying a group of children with disabilities, following an inquiry by the Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The group had pre-arranged their visit and presented valid certificates entitling their assistants to free entry. Despite this, some assistants were still charged.
After the group contacted the Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an office within the Ministry of Justice, the Commissioner approached the Safari Park. The park subsequently returned the collected fees and updated its procedures, clarifying that the right to a free assistant is personal and applies even during group visits.
The Safari Park attributed the incident to a misunderstanding by its booking staff and stated it is working to train its employees and refine procedures to prevent similar occurrences. Dan Rashal, the Commissioner for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities, commented that while the refund and procedural changes are positive, the entitlement should be recognized at the point of sale without needing to involve the Commissioner's office. He emphasized that service providers must ensure their staff are aware of and implement these rights.
This incident comes shortly after a new transportation arrangement for students with physical disabilities in special education was reported. This followed a petition to the High Court of Justice by groups including the Coalition for Parents of Children with Special Needs, which argued that certain groups of students with disabilities had historically received more flexible transportation options than those with physical disabilities.