A Florida Walmart refused to allow a 10-year-old disabled boy to use their motorized carts because one employee claimed it was against their policy.
His mother, Tiffany Ferris, was furious after the situation and posted a video to Facebook about what happened. According to Ferris, her son, Cameron, has muscular development problems which makes it difficult to walk.
She said a Walmart employee told her son to get out of the cart. Cameron's father explained to the employee that he has trouble walking, and a manager came over to help diffuse the situation.
"He has been in special shoes, wheelchairs at school, and there have been many nights spent rubbing his legs so he can just sleep. Well, he started to have leg spasms, and I had him use a motorized cart to finish our trip," Ferris wrote on Facebook. "I had stepped away for a minute the first time a lady (Walmart associate) approached him and told him that he couldn't be on the carts, he was trying to explain but she just continues to tell him no! My husband approached a manager (a floor manager) who apologized and said he would make sure that didn't happen again"
Ferris believed the situation was over, however, another employee approached her again as her family was checking out.
"Then another lady says loudly 'Ma'am, ma'am, excuse me Ma'am, is that your son?' Pointing to my youngest. Yes he is, he is disabled and he needs it. To which she replies, 'I don't really care about that, but minors can't ride our carts it's policy because it's a liability.'"
At this point Ferris carries her son out of the store. The son is visibly upset and crying because he was so embarrassed.
Walmart released this statement: "We have apologized to the family about a misunderstanding over the use of a motorized cart. We always strive to ensure our customers have positive shopping experiences, and in this case we fell short. We take this matter seriously, and the store has since addressed the issue with associates."
Ferris also noted that Walmart does not have a minor policy for motorized carts. The American Disabilities Act states:
"State law does not specifically require retail establishments to provide motorized carts or other mobility devices for customers with disabilities to use while shopping. But it makes it a discriminatory practice to deny anyone full and equal accommodations in a place of public accommodation because of a physical disability. (CGS § 46a-63)."
