Advertisement

Controversy erupts over mother of child with special needs

Elit Kirschenbaum, the mother of a three-year-old special-needs child, started a Twitter campaign against United Airlines, after a flight attendant wouldn’t let her daughter sit in her lap on a flight from the Dominican Republic to the United States.

The flight was delayed for an hour while the family argued with the airline crew. Kirschenbaum claims her daughter Ivy — a stroke survivor with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, who is not able to sit up on her own, was humiliated by the flight attendant’s treatment.

United has since apologised and Kirschenbaum has received an avalanche of online support via the hashtag #UnitedWithIvy.

But there has also been a backlash against the Short Hills, New Jersey, mother of four, who had purchased first-class tickets for herself and husband. They bought their daughter Ivy a ticket in coach class.

Some critics weren’t as kind:

"New headline: "Incredibly Self-Centered Family - None Would Trade Seat In Economy For Special Needs Kid," tweeted Chris G.

Morning news break - January 3
Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.