Family's holiday ruined after 'upsetting' move by popular resort
Bianca Gay claims her seven-year old son's registered assistance dog was refused by the popular Queensland resort.
A family's holiday plans were ruined after a popular Queensland resort allegedly refused to accommodate their seven-year-old's assistance dog, insisting pets are not permitted on site.
Now, mum-of-four Bianca Gay has accused Islander Noosa Resort of "discrimination" after their booking was denied.
"I actually thought it was a misunderstanding and called and learnt really quickly that it was a purposeful exclusion of my child," the Newcastle woman told A Current Affair.
Her son Porter is non-verbal and lives with autism and sensory processing disorder, making busy environments full of people, sounds and noises challenging for him. However, since getting their assistance dog Pierre the seven-year-old has been "happy to go places" and participate in the community.
Despite the resort's website permitting assistance dogs on the premises, it reportedly acknowledged Pierre — a registered assistance dog — as a 'pet' instead, who was not permitted to join the family.
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Resort's move a 'kick in the guts' for family's holiday hopes
Gay called the move "upsetting and discriminatory" and decided that if one family member couldn't stay at the resort then none of them would.
"To have someone refuse my son's service dog, that is essentially refusing him access to a holiday and my seven-year-old son has the right to a family holiday like anybody else's kid," she said.
The family reportedly received a full refund but their hopes for a holiday have been dashed, with Bianca admitting she "doesn't have the heart to rebook" another one. A Current Affair advised hotel chain Bannisters has since offered the family a three-night stay.
"It's not the disability itself that makes our lives challenging or exhausting it's the constant need to advocate... against discrimination and barriers," Gay said. "People with disability and their families travel too... we go on holiday just like everybody else."
Yahoo News has contacted Islander Noosa Resort for comment.
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