What a Lawsuit Reveals About Modern Society
How often do we overlook the everyday hurdles faced by individuals with disabilities? A recent incident at a movie theater provides a glaring, unsettling answer.
A few weeks ago, when a mother took her teenage nonverbal autistic son to see the Disney film Elemental, she did not anticipate the distressing turn of events that would lead to her and her son being escorted out of the theater by the police.
The incident centered around a seemingly mundane event: the son had to use the bathroom. This may be an oversimplification; however, this is the crux of what happened. In fact, it is the unremarkable nature of using the bathroom that reveals so much about how society treats people with disabilities.
As you might be able to imagine, because the son is nonverbal and therefore cannot advocate for himself, whenever he needs to use the restroom, someone, in this case, his mom, needs to accompany him.
While the world has come a long way towards designing an accessible and ability-inclusive environment, disparities still persist; accessibility should extend beyond mere physical accommodations into a broader realm of understanding and acceptance, but societal attitudes and awareness lag behind. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 adults in the US have some type of disability, yet the societal infrastructures often impede individuals like the son from enjoying basic independence. Their need for assistance in everyday activities, such as using the restroom, underscores the importance of fostering a society that accommodates their unique needs.
My younger brother, similar to the son, is also on the autism spectrum. Even though he's 16 years old, I still accompany him to public restrooms. This isn't just about physical support; it's about ensuring his dignity and comfort. My presence serves as an "insurance policy" for moments when he might forget to lock doors or inadvertently cross social boundaries. It's not just about alleviating potential discomfort; it's about advocating for his needs and promoting a world where he can confidently engage.
Through these experiences, I’ve learned that accompanying my brother to the restroom is a reminder that we have more to do as a society. The world is not always welcoming to those who experience life differently; even the models of disability we use — placing the onus on the individual — act as formidable barriers, and turn even the most ordinary tasks into challenges that hamper their independence.
So, when the son needed to use the restroom, both mom and son get up mid-movie and make their way into the ladies' room, where the mother could step in if need be. The other ladies in the restroom recognized and respected the situation, offering implicit support. However, the situation took a different turn when the theater manager, unaware of the context, insisted that they leave, yelling that “a grown man does not belong in the women's restroom”.
The mother stood her ground and calmly tried to explain her situation— why she had to accompany what seemed like a grown man to the bathroom. It seemed as though an unstoppable force had met an immovable object. Soon, security was called, and then the police, who sided with the manager and escorted them out of the theater. What happened to them was humiliating and traumatizing. Understandably, legal action against the theater followed.
I first heard about what happened at the theater while listening to the radio on my way home from work. The matter-of-fact reporting style caught me off guard. And it seemed as though every report of the incident treated it as an isolated occurrence, a bad actor-outlier who will face swift legal retribution.
In comparison to other instances of discrimination against marginalized and systematically disadvantaged groups, the media seemed relatively indifferent this time. However, it is important to recognize that the media only reflects public opinion, indicating a broader and collective indifference to the challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities.
This incident isn't about placing blame — it isn’t about a bad actor-outlier; it's about understanding the gaps that persist and finding ways to bridge them. And at its core, the incident underscores a fundamental lack of awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by those with disabilities.
However, this story does not have to be a tale of terror. Instead, it can be an opportunity for collective change. We can, and should, rewrite the narrative to become an isolated incident, but only after raising public awareness to ensure my brother and others like him do not face the same conclusion on their trip to the cinema.
It starts with recognizing and correcting the poor design of the movie theater (and most public bathrooms), disability training for the police, and possibly even disability awareness curriculum reform. And most importantly, solidarity for the challenges faced by those with disabilities. Various organizations and advocacy groups are tirelessly working to bridge these gaps. Campaigns like the “Changing Places” initiative in the UK, which advocates for more accessible restroom facilities, underscore the global momentum toward creating more inclusive environments.
As the curtains fell on the distressing scene at the local theater a few weeks ago, the reverberations of that incident continue to echo through our community, reminding us of the stark realities faced by individuals with disabilities. This wasn’t merely a one-off event but a reflection of the broader societal landscape that often overlooks the needs and rights of those living with disabilities.
