Discrimination starts with attitudes and language. Actions follow words with verbal abuse and potentially physical abuse

Discriminatory words and attitudes can be used to isolate and denigrate minorities like women – “you’re just like a woman”, people of other religions – “you are all like that”, people of other races – “blacks (or Asians, or Swedes, or Russians) are like that”.

Abuse will continue as long as we tolerate the abuse as a society.

Code phrases for “you are different therefore less than me in value” are the same for those living with disabilities.

In the comments on the CBC story Assault should cost driver his job: mother we read discriminatory language towards those with disabilities.

Comments from “beachs” appear to be directly from Pat and the Elephant or an employee with new rules for the disabled. I totally reject that response as inappropriate for a service that transports the disabled.

The response displays a bias against those living with disabilities.

The school board hires P&E to transport children they cannot accommodate on the school bus. Brenton is one of those children.

Who made up the rules that a child can not be accommodated if they drool? What about if they twitch or irritate the driver with silly comments or chatter?

Pat and the Elephant seem to have lost interest in accommodating the disabled and would like to be a Cadillac bus service. Wheelchairs if you’re perfect will be the new motto.

Soon the disabled will learn to stay home.

Those living with disabilities don’t need pity from Pat and the Elephant – the comment “unfortunate enough to use their service” is a relic from the past.

Disability is a fact of life. If you live long enough you will have some disability if you don’t now.

We are not sick, unfortunate, unlucky, pitiable or charity cases. We are human beings. We are Canadians entitled to all the rights and freedoms of other Canadians.

However, the comment does speak volumes about the archaic attitudes some caregivers have towards us.

“You poor dear” or “That’s too bad” “Why are you in a wheelchair?”

Those living with disabilities deserve to be treated the same as everyone else. Patronizing and discriminatory language is the beginning of discrimination and in the P&E story assault.

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Video – Valerie Gillespie says Pat and the Elephant driver not safe
CBC: assault should cost driver his job says mother
Paratransit driver convicted assaulting child with disability