Oxygen Free Jump
Yet more exclusion. 😞
That seems to me very clearly about the additional risks of (IIRC) Atlanto-Axial Instability, which is common among people with Downs Syndrome and carries a serious risk of spinal cord damage and paralysis.
I remember a bit of a scare about it 25 years ago or so, at which point it was strongly recommended that anyone with Downs Syndrome be screened before taking part in certain physical activities that carried more risk. Rugby, diving and trampolining were specifically called out as examples.
I've no idea what the current British Gymnastic Association guidance says, and I'm sure OFJ could have handled the situation better, but to me this is about responding to a very specific risk (albeit perhaps inappropriately), not about trying to exclude someone with a disability for shits and giggles.
ETA - looks like if you have Downs and want to take part in any activities regulated by British Gymnastics, you have to have medical signoff. The relevant form is kept both centrally by British Gymnastics and by the coach, and sets out whether or not there are restrictions on which activities you can participate in.
I get the feeling that there's probably poor reporting in that article, and potentially misunderstanding and poor communication between Sally Phillips and the trampoline park.
I think asking for a fresh doctor's letter for every visit is a clear overreach (and I'd be surprised if that's actually what they're asking for), but it's too simplistic to say "we should be allowed to take these risks, just like everyone else" as Sally Phillips is reported to have said.
That's probably fine for her and her son, given that if he's registered with British Gymnastics they're aware of the risks, which in his case are presumably no worse than for anyone else if British Gymnastics don't restrict his participation in their activities.
But I don't see a commercial activity provider - or its insurers - being content that their duty of care to users is adequately discharged without some check that the potentially higher risk to people with Downs Syndrome is properly understood by those users.
