Blood
and Custard blog
Unacceptable Face of
Railway Modelling
The
standards of today’s society have made racism, sexism, homophobia and bigotry
socially unacceptable. However, in my opinion some consider
disability-discrimination to remain acceptable even though it too is enshrined
in the Equality Act 2010.
Unfortunately,
disability-discrimination all-too frequently appears in the model-railway hobby;
when it does it is quite revolting as those perpetrating the discrimination do
not believe what they are doing is wrong, let alone morally repugnant (often bigotry if not in breach of the
Equality Act 2010).
Similarly
referring back to the well-known phrase ignorance is no defence this remains
applicable for those running businesses, events, exhibitions or media outlets potentially
including some social-media.
Equality Act & Reasonable Adjustments
The
majority of these incidents come about through a failure to make reasonable adjustments; this being an
obligation mandated in the Equality Act 2010. Whilst situations may arise where
adjustments for disabilities cannot be achieved (it would be unreasonably
practical to do so) I struggle to see valid reasons as to why reasonable
adjustments cannot be made.
Sometimes
this may be via an alternative solution. For example, my much-lamented local
model-shop had a short set of four or five steps therein and (for reasons that
aren’t important here) it was not reasonably practicable to install a lift
/stair-lift. However, in taking on the premises the owner could fulfil his
obligations under the Equality Act by letting mobility-impaired customers in
via a rear-door or bringing items down to the lower (shop-front) level.
Accessibility at Exhibitions
Model
railway exhibitions are providing a service for which they charge and obtain
revenue. At these I’ve encountered many facets of disability-discrimination
whether it has been stepped only access to parts of the venue, doors too narrow
to let wheelchairs pass of basic lack of ‘facilities’ (often these are present
but unusable). I could list many more….
It
must be said that some of these events have excellent provision for those with
needs.
In
attending exhibitions in every instance of issues arising the attitude of the
exhibition management towards making reasonable adjustments (sometimes there
and then) has made all the difference. Some having been highly supportive. By
comparison those who do not reasonably seek to make reasonable adjustments run
the risk of falling foul of the Equality Act 2010 (disability-discrimination through a failure to make reasonable
adjustments).
However,
in choosing a venue the model railway exhibition management needs to consider
carefully if the venue is suitable for use by disabled persons in order to
fulfil the statutory obligations required by the Equality Act 2010.
Usually
this would include undertaking an impact assessment which should consider what
reasonable adjustments can be undertaken to ensure accessibility and facilities
remain adequate. Not to do could place an exhibition management at odds with or
even in breach of the Equality Act 2010.
That
an exhibition has always used (say) an old venue with stepped-only access does
not mean it is okay to continue holding events there. If reasonable adjustments
cannot be fulfilled at a particular venue then the exhibition needs to find
premises that can provide these.
Accessible Parking at Exhibitions
One
of the significant problems attending exhibition is availability of blue-badge
parking. If the venue is relying on (say) a municipal car park then that should
have such provision.
However,
if the car park is under the control of the venue (say using a school) then it
is incumbent upon the exhibition management to ensure reasonable provisions are
made and remain available for the duration.
It
cannot be acceptable to state the school has a single blue-badge bay for its
staff of twenty-five and that will suffice even when two-hundred and fifty are
expected to be parking at any given time. That is clearly a nonsense and (I
believe) somebody is potentially deluded to believe otherwise.
Equally
to claim such parking will be self-enforced is an unacceptable response when
clearly so many will just abuse the parking. In such a scenario both those parking
in disabled /blue-badge bays and the exhibition management (who fail to prevent
it when it is ‘reasonably practicable’ to do so) are discriminating against
those with disability with indifference to the statute.
In the
latter part of 2018 I attended two exhibitions; both being held in school halls
only a few miles apart. Although the first (Worthing) was run by large a
long-established club, the accessibility was woefully inadequate whether it be
no provision for blue badge holders in the (advertised) car park (completely
unstaffed) or the use of exhibition areas only accessible by stairs (which had
no handrails). The other (Durrington) was run by a much smaller group, but upon
arrival a member of staff was immediately assisting blue-badge parking before
you entered the fully accessible venue.
Disability Discrimination & Bigotry on Forums
Recently
on an enthusiast’s model railway forum this subject came up in response to an
advertisement for a forthcoming model railway exhibition. Exchanges were
well-balanced and informative (to all) discussing these issues when seeking to
attend a model railway exhibition. Unfortunately, one of that forum’s
moderators took great exception to this and removed posts without a reasonable
explanation why. In doing to the double negative ‘not unsupportive’ <towards disability> phrase said it all.
The
only opinion I could reasonably form was this forum as a whole was not
supportive of those with disabilities. Indeed, by acting in the way it did was prejudice
against railway modeller’s with disabilities and as such, the issues of
disability in respect of model railways were not welcome or wanted – i.e. effectively
saying just ‘go-away’ and ‘trouble’ someone else. In this respect the forum
administrator has to bear some responsibility too, as the moderator was acting
on their behalf with their implicit authority. For myself I could not in any
way continue to support this forum choosing to rapidly distanced myself from
them using Article 17 of GDPR to be ‘forgotten’
thereon
No
doubt this moderator thought he was doing a ‘wonderful job’, without any reflection
upon how his ‘bigoted’ action has been portrayed to others. Particularly at a
time when (in my opinion) he actually needed to step down from all such roles
having just brought the forum (and ultimately the hobby) into disrepute.
Subsequently
the incident was briefly referred to (in reply to a query) on 2nd (professional)
forum (run by a model manufacturer) the incident details were deliberately
anonymised (i.e. the name of enthusiast’s model railway forum was not stated by
this author).
Unfortunately,
the moderator concerned moderated on both forums and considered it as being
acceptable to (for want of a better phrase) try and ‘create an argument’ on the 2nd (professional) forum in
respect of their earlier bigotry. In my opinion this was an unacceptable abuse
of their role and (on a manufacturer’s forum) completely unprofessional whilst
potentially bringing that manufacturer into disrepute /leading to possible
allegations of that forum condoning discrimination.
Another
unacceptable face of railway modelling perhaps?
Furthermore,
in doing so (as an agent of these forums) this moderator potentially breached GDPR. Certainly, their
actions were treated as harassment and subject to a complaint
to the manufacturer concerned.
As
a consequence (and after discussion with the manufacturer in respect of their
forum who asked me to remain) I decided to simply withdraw from that forum too.
As before, article 17 of GDPR was employed so I
could disappear into obscurity thereon. Whilst this may have a negative impact
on those seeking genuine support from other modellers, that negative impact has
to be placed directly at the feet of those who perceive
disability-discrimination remains acceptable – in particular the bigotry
expressed by this bigoted moderator. Furthermore, forums who deem it acceptable
for such persons to remain in positions of responsibility (such as moderation)
have to accept criticism, responsibility and (if the situation arose) liability
for the actions of their bigoted moderator.
I believe
disability-discrimination remains an unacceptable face of railway modelling;
forming part of an entrenched problem within parts of the hobby.
Obviously,
there may be some who try to denounce the needs of (say) the disabled as
‘political correctness gone made’ but would these people still try to use say, the
racist ‘N’ word – I doubt it. Ultimately the ill-informed ‘political
correctness gone made’ response only serves to demonstrate further bigotry by
those who have probably never experienced a disabling condition.
For
myself, my decision was final and I will not be returning to these forums; nor
will I knowingly support exhibitions that do not make reasonable adjustments
for disabled persons. Indeed, I may choose to challenge serious exhibition
failings to make reasonable adjustments (as I have now previously done so).
Whilst
both forums promptly expedited my GDPR request, shamefully neither shewed any
meaningful interest in dealing with the actual causation; in my opinion a bigoted
forum ‘official’ (moderator) that considered disability-discrimination to be acceptable. On this basis these forums could also be
accused of knowingly condoning discrimination through simple inaction.
©BloodandCustard
Blood and Custard blog seeks to
provides an informed opinion