Who can complain?
Obviously, a person who experiences discrimination can complain for themselves, but that’s not all. A relative or friend who is also affected by the discrimination against that person can make their own complaint. For example:
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Sonja and Mitch went to dinner, taking along Mitch’s guide dog. When the manager saw the dog, he told them ‘I’m sorry but dogs are not permitted here. You’ll have to leave the dog outside’. Mitch explained that his dog was a guide dog but the manager insisted that the dog couldn’t come into the restaurant. Sonja and Mitch saw that they weren’t getting anywhere and left. Afterwards, Mitch decided that he wouldn’t bother complaining - he just wouldn’t go back there again. Sonja, however, thought they should lodge a discrimination complaint. After all, if they don’t speak up, the same thing will happen to someone else. |
Sonja can make a complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission, even though she is not the person with the disability and the dog was not hers. She was disadvantaged by the manager’s decision because she had planned to eat dinner there with Mitch.
Also, if a person who has been disadvantaged is unable to complain, because of intellectual disability or because they are too young, a legal guardian or other representative can make a complaint on their behalf.
Last updated on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 18:03.
