A wheelchair user was threatened with a $400 fine if his ride home from the airport parked in the disability pick-up zone. Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec shared a video on Sunday of his interaction with a worker at Adelaide Airport, where his mother attempted to pick him up on Saturday.
Incident Details
The three-minute clip showed the worker explaining his mother could not park in the pick-up area as she did not have a disability permit, despite her son being confined to a wheelchair. 'It's really clearly signed, all motor users have to have their permit,' the worker said. Mr Hryhorec asked: 'So all these wheelchair icons here - you can't drop off and pick up people with disabilities unless they've got a permit, is that right? So my mum can't pick up me in my wheelchair?' The worker confirmed: 'That's correct.'
Mr Hryhorec asked where he would have to wheel himself to in order to get his ride, considering the general pick-up area was too 'chaotic' and parts were inaccessible. The Adelaide Airport worker insisted he would either need to use the general pick-up area or his mother could pay $400 for using the disability area without a permit.
Advocate's Reaction
Mr Hryhorec was shocked to be caught out by the odd rules as he frequently uses Adelaide Airport to get around for his travel blog. 'For many, many years, I've been using the disability pick-up and drop-off area at Adelaide Airport and all airports all around the world,' he said in the video. 'If you're in a wheelchair and have a service animal, you know firsthand how hard it is to use pick-up areas that are not designated accessible ones. It's hectic, it's chaotic and what airports have is designated disability areas to make it easier for people with disabilities, getting dropped off and picked up from the airport.'
Mr Hryhorec called for Adelaide Airport to urgently change the rules, adding it is 'impossible' for users to organise for every ride they get to have a permit. 'Life with a disability is not easy, travelling with a disability is really, really hard,' he told ABC News. 'We have enough barriers as there is without having to deal with situations like this just by getting dropped off and picked up from the airport. I'm hoping the airport doesn't send us a $400 fine, but if they do I certainly will be appealing it.'
Airport Response
Adelaide Airport told ABC it was investigating the incident and apologised for 'the frustration and distress' Mr Hryhorec and his mother endured. 'Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will review our policies and procedures and make any necessary changes,' it said. 'We are committed to ensuring a seamless and positive experience for all our customers.'
