Experience of a disabled person

I am a person with a disability and these are my experiences at this business.

I have been denied my right to access in this business and later allowed entry just to avoid me being "an annoyance".

I had to try to explain myself, my right as a person with disability on reasons why I needed to be let in the establishment without standing in line (or queue).

For some security personnel and managers, it is unacceptable that just because I have a disability, I should skip the line. One manager at Pick and Pay Soneike even said “Where in your right as a person with disability does it say I should not stand in line?” And I was ridiculed by security personnel as they were talking on their walkie talkie when I was attempting to enter at Pick ‘n Pay Liquor Soneike. Even though the manager had said he will speak to them. And before that I was told they make “no exceptions” or preferences for entrance to Pick ‘n Pay Liquor. And they pointed at chairs saying the chairs are there for me to sit and wait in line and only enter when it is my turn. They believe that just because there are chairs people with disability should be in queues and be seated in the chairs until it is their turn.

When the Pick ‘n Pay Liquor Soneike security personnel finally let me through, the person I was with (for assistance) they still would not let him in, he had to stand in the line.

For these reasons, I have to mentally prepare myself time and time again. When I get out of my house I have to prep myself that there is a chance I have to explain to somebody I have a disability and that explanation might not even be worth it because I still would be denied access. If allowed, I would have had to go through the trauma and humiliation of explaining myself with the chance that it will not be private but there would be spectators.

I just wish to say this to the managers and security personnel of Pick ‘n Pay Soneike and Pick ‘n Pay Liquor Soneike: allowing people with disabilities access to your businesses is not a preference, is not an exception, is not a favor. It is a right for people with disability. Please train your managers and security personnel about the rights of people with disability. Chairs are just another form of barrier to denied access to persons with disability, if you are asking them to seat and wait in line for their turn. For example, if I have a disability and I am already on the wheelchair, are the chair in queues enabling access to me as a person with a disability in a wheelchair?

People with disability are not Elderly People. Elderly people were fully able bodied people who lived and enjoyed their full rights until they got old. People with disability their rights were limited by nature from birth or otherwise. And as such, it is common courtesy, it is favors, preferences and exceptions you do for elderly people to provide chairs, skip them in lines, etc. For people with disability it is a Constitutional and Civil right and you should train your personnel to help them exercise that right without preconception.

I wish all businesses can take a lesson and avoid being similar to Pick ‘n Pay Soneike. Train their personnel on the Constitutional Rights and Civil Rights of People with Disabilities. And treat them with respect and dignity and allow them privacy to discuss their disabilities privately and respectfully and in a human and dignified manner. This way people with disabilities will not feel fear and shame when visiting any Pick ‘n Pay franchise. They should not be ridiculed and have to explain themselves in front of spectators. It is hard enough waking up and the disability is still there, and have to go to Pick ‘n Pay Soneike, Pick ‘n Pay Liquor Soneike or any other business for that matter. And mentally prepare yourself of the trauma of having to explain yourself, YOU ARE DISABLED.