Lithuanian MP seeks probe into alleged Down syndrome discrimination at amusement park

The Vice Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, Rima Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, has requested an investigation into an incident at an amusement park in the Pasvalis district. The request stems from an event last week where park employees allegedly refused to allow a teenager with Down syndrome to use the ropes course.

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the appeal was initiated due to an incident that occurred last week when park employees refused to allow a teenager with Down syndrome onto the ropes course.

According to reports, the park staff cited the teenager's disability and internal park rules as reasons for denying access. This occurred despite the parents' explanation that their son had previously used similar facilities in other parks and would be accompanied by family members on the course. The park's publicly available rules reportedly did not mention any such restrictions.

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the refusal to provide the service was motivated by the minor's disability and internal rules, although restrictions were not publicly announced in the park's published rules.

In response to the information received, the parliamentarian is asking the relevant authorities to assess whether the service provider's actions and requirements violate the provisions of the Law on Equal Opportunities. She specifically wants to know if there are signs of discrimination based on disability in this situation.

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whether the service provider's actions and requirements do not violate the provisions of the Law on Equal Opportunities and whether there are signs of discrimination based on disability in this situation.

Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė emphasized that cases of decisions being made based on prejudice still occur in society. Therefore, she stressed the importance of ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not subjected to unjustified limitations when accessing public services.

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decisions are still made based on preconceived notions, so it is necessary to ensure that people with disabilities are not subject to unjustified restrictions on the use of public services.