I reckon that those suggesting that a disabled under 14 should be treated the same as an under 14 have little or no experience of disability and I am really pleased for you.
The plain and simple fact is that a kid with a disability who wants to attend matches at the Etihad has, until very recently been provided with a carer free of charge.
There was no advance notice that the carer rule was to change and it only became apparent when those who wanted to renew the season cards tried to renew only to find that the club had removed that support without any warning or grace period whatsoever.
Now lets me ask you to consider a couple of scenarios (without getting into specific names)
1. A child with severe and multiple disabilities, wheelchair bound and with a life expectancy of less than 14 years has one love and that is man City.
His mother has poor mobility herself but acts as a full time carer and is also a lone parent.
The little money they have coming in to their household means a subsidence level existence but she managed to get enough money together for travel etc to attend matches even though she hated footy.
On the days when she was in too much pain to take her son herself she managed to get another respite carer to take her son even though his medical needs are challenging and difficult to manage it was worth it as it was the only enjoyment the kid got.
Now, alas that has been taken away by the clubs decision to charge the carer too. It is simply unaffordable.
2. A family of five, mum dad and three kids with dad working weekends and mum doing all she can to keep a family unit together and make sure all three kids, 2 of whom are without disability but the third has severe and profound disabilities.
The mum takes all three kids together to the match and is helped by her sister who is one of only a few people who understands how to care for her disabled son if need be.
Attending matches for the kids is the only activity they can enjoy together and even though dad tries his best to earn to pay their own way the fact is they are not like 'normal' families and they need an extra adult there otherwise it simply isnt manageable.
Having struggled to get the cash together for 3 kids and one adult the need to find that extra few hundred quid means its not gonna be something they can afford.
And so the family are unable to attend together.
Now I know there will be some heartless fuckers on here who will say 'so what its just a disabled kid' or 'if I have to pay when I go with my lads why shouldnt they' then I pity you and your nasty way of seeing the world.
I can guarantee that if you are like that then we will never get on, end of.
Next time you are playing footy in the parc with your full able bodied kids think about that lad or lass in the wheelchair who cant have that simple pleasure.
Next time you let you 9,10,11,12 or 13 year old pop around to his mates or play in the street have a thought for the poor little kid who is forever trapped inside watching all those others grow and develop.
Because lets not forget that we are all equal aren't we?
We have equality legislation which means that a 12 year old who will be dead in a year can now expect his carer to be charged to go with him but that means he is robbed of one of the few pleasures that life brings him before his pain wracked and plainly awful existence on this planet comes to and end.
But yeah, your probably right if you have to pay for your fucking kid then why shouldnt he?
