Abercrombie & Fitch fined for refusing to let teen help autistic sister

[knight_shadow]

Sidebar:

I'm at work right now, so I can't read the full articles yet. I've noticed a few posters have said that the medical records were presented to someone. Did the sisters carry the records with them to the mall, or was this something that was presented after the complaint was filed?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I've noticed a few posters have said that the medical records were presented to someone. Did the sisters carry the records with them to the mall, or was this something that was presented after the complaint was filed?

No. They came in as part of the discovery during the lawsuit.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No. They came in as part of the discovery during the lawsuit.

So the two (teenage) girls only explained that the younger sister had autism? I'm sorry, but I wouldn't have taken their word for it, either.

Pardon my ignorance, but is it possible to tell whether or not someone has autism just by looking/actions? Does it vary based on where they fall on the spectrum?

Did either of the articles say whether or not the policy included parents with their younger children?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Pardon my ignorance, but is it possible to tell whether or not someone has autism just by looking/actions? Does it vary based on where they fall on the spectrum?

It depends a great deal, both on where the person falls on the spectrum and on the observer's experience. I don't think any random salesperson would be able to tell that my kid is on the spectrum, but we've met a few adults who, because they have kids on the spectrum themselves or had taught kids on the spectrum, picked up on it remarkably quickly -- within a minute or two.

Did either of the articles say whether or not the policy included parents with their younger children?

I don't think either one said, but since A&F doesn't (as best I remember) carry children's clothes, I'm not sure that would've been an issue when the policy was drafted.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

It depends a great deal, both on where the person falls on the spectrum and on the observer's experience. I don't think any random salesperson would be able to tell that my kid is on the spectrum, but we've met a few adults who, because they have kids on the spectrum themselves or had taught kids on the spectrum, picked up on it remarkably quickly -- within a minute or two.

Thank you.

I don't think either one said, but since A&F doesn't (as best I remember) carry children's clothes, I'm not sure that would've been an issue when the policy was drafted.

They also have the abercrombie/Abercrombie Kids brand. I'm wondering how they'll explain that policy in one of those stores (or if the rule is only in place for the general A+F stores).

ETA: To add on to that, if a parent decides to take his/her child into the dressing room at a regular A+F, I wonder if that raises eyebrows. That policy probably does need to be examined.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Improv Everywhere gets a laugh at A&F's expense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdeBp8J0rqs

I love this!

[UGAalum94]

Is this really an ADA issue?

Someone tossed that out earlier in the thread, but it doesn't seem to me to apply.

The state is certainly able to have a higher standard, of course.

I agree with Vandalsquirrel that there were much better ways to handle this. I'm not as sure as some of you that the autistic teen should be legally entitled to have assistance in the dressing room, but it certainly seems to me that a decent company would permit it.