Discrimination from Starwood Hotels

[Jenifer]

My family is staying at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Arizona this week for a much-needed vacation. Our plan was to have lots of fun family time, and also to put Joy in the resort's Kids Club for a couple of times so we could have some alone time.

We took her down this morning to see Kids Club and meet the staff, and they informed us that Starwood's policy changed 2 months ago and they no longer take kids with special needs, period. It doesn't matter that Joy is very high functioning — she's potty trained, she speaks in complete sentences, she reads — their policy excludes ALL kids with special needs, no matter how they function.

The hotel chains under the Starwood brand include: Westin, Sheraton, Le Meridian, St. Regis, W Hotels and then some smaller boutique properties. This means there are literally HUNDREDS of hotels worldwide discriminating against our kids simply because they have an extra chromosome.

Fortunately Joy doesn't really understand what happened and why — we turned a negative into a positive by making sure she had a phenomenal day. But it made us as parents furious. And it hurt a lot that they weren't willing to look at our individual child and make a judgment call. They just saw the characteristics of DS and said no.

I do intend to write a letter when I get home, but I want to let it go right now and enjoy our trip. Just wanted to get this off my chest and get the word out. If you're planning a vacation and want to use childcare, avoid Starwood hotels and resorts like the plague.

Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Oh that is just infuriating. Can they do that by law? I'll look in my hotel/motel law book. At my motel families w/ special needs get discounts and sometimes even stay for free and Brook loves to play with the kids. I'm so sorry this happened to you {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

This is a good sight. Has numbers and sights at the bottom. Hotel/motels fall under the catorgory as public places and we have to follow ADA just like any public place. I'm so sorry you had to deal with these people. After you finish your vacation please let us know what happens after you write them a letter.

www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/public-facility-accommodations

[CC]

"We took her down this morning to see Kids Club and meet the staff, and they informed us that Starwood's policy changed 2 months ago and they no longer take kids with special needs, period. It doesn't matter that Joy is very high functioning — she's potty trained, she speaks in complete sentences, she reads — their policy excludes ALL kids with special needs, no matter how they function."

WOW High functioning or not that should not come into play. ALL should be included in this service. I am very sad to read this

CC ~

[Radonna]

I can't find childcare period for Kaden. I can remember this going as far back as taking him to church and him not being allowed to go to the Sunday School class.

[Jessie]

I can't even believe this! Sorry, I would have checked out immediately. No establishment deserves to make a dime off of you if this is their policy.


Jessie

[elizabethsmom]

Can they do that? If they offer childcare can they legally deny to care for Joy? What would her additional needs, over and above another child, have been? You say she's potty trained and verbal, so what additional things would they have had to do for her that they don't do for other children?

I would contact their headquarters. As a matter of fact, maybe we should all contact their headquarters. That's outrageous.

Sheryl

[lorraine]

How awful, I am shocked and hurt for you about this.
I hope it doesn't spoil your vacation too much.

Lorraine

[momofrussell]

Public places have to provide accessability for individuals with disabilities, but I think the water is murky for something like this. I don't think it applies to the "club" part... unfortunately I think the ADA laws apply to accessability to the bldg.

Murky water indeed.....

A.

[Emilysmom]

I remember a few years ago when Alice and her family went on a cruise; assuming their little guy with Ds would be able to attend the children's activities....only to find out that he was not welcomed.
It is very unfortunate that this happens. We experienced it when Emily was about 5 at our own church preschool program and I remember being very hurt about it.
I would certainly send a letter about it! I'm glad Joy didn't realize she was being discriminated against and that you're having a great time in spite of this experience.

And...."she's potty trained, she speaks in complete sentences, she reads "......If I was in charge of a program such as the one at the hotel, I would think these things would matter! Their job of meeting her needs would be much easier in that case! Caring for a child who couldn't express their needs, who needed to be diapered, and who might get hurt and not be able to let someone know what happened would seem like a bigger "risk" to them. I'm not saying it is RIGHT to discriminate at all. It's a shame that this goes on.