I signed my 10-year-old neurodivergent son up for swim lessons with staff Micheal. When first signing up for lessons, I was told they only have two entrances to the pool area which are through the men's locker room or the women's locker room.
I was told that he could use either one. To be certain, I asked if I could take him to the women's locker room because he was unable to go into the men's locker room unsupervised and I was told yes.
I was able to do that for a few weeks without issue. The front staff saw when we checked in and walked into the ladies locker room.
Suddenly the swim instructor Don directly informs my son that he can no longer use the women's locker room. At that time, I told Dn that my child was not able to use a men's locker room unsupervised because he needed to shower after swim lessons because we don't go straight home. He then told me he would be more than happy to walk my son into the men's locker room and make sure he did what he needed to do. Again, I let him know I was not comfortable with that either.
I was then told by Don that my son could walk through the men's locker room to get to the pool area and then change in the family room which is just a small room with a door and has no showers or lockers. I reiterated that he needs to wash off after being in a chlorinated pool because we don't go straight home. I offered to bring his documentation showing his impairments, which Don declined.
I took my concerns back to the front desk and once again was told there were no issues with me taking him to the women's locker room as long as we were being careful and mindful. I proceeded to bring him and followed the front desk's instructions.
On 4/23/24, we show up at lessons, he changed in the women's locker room and we were standing in the pool area waiting for class to start. Don climbed out of the pool walked past me put his hands on my son's shoulders and proceeded to usher him toward the men's locker room while telling me he was going to show him through the men's locker room because he couldn't go back in the women's locker room. I told him that I was not comfortable with my son being in the men's locker room unsupervised! I was then told he couldn't return to swim lessons.
I find it alarming that Don was so persistent and insistent that my neurodivergent child used the male's locker room with his supervision even though we thoroughly expressed our discontent. Don even dared to say that he was more qualified to suggest that I give my child independence to go into the male's locker room unsupervised by a parent although I thoroughly expressed that he was not mentally mature enough and my extreme discomfort with my son taking a shower while accompanied by him and unsupervised by his parent. I also found it biased that he informed me that the facility couldn't accommodate my son's special needs only after insistently trying to get him to use the male's locker room. That should have been expressed to me when signing up and all of this could have been prevented.
Many other children used the female locker room including male children.
Given the circumstances, we kept in mind that it was still a place where the privacy of females should be respected. We developed a routine that ensured we didn't infringe upon anyone's rights to safety or privacy. I made sure I stayed directly with my child the entire time he was in the locker room to monitor his every action.
Not only did we have to deal with the locker room issue, but my son cut his foot open in their pool on 3/19/24 which required a visit to urgent care and resulted in 3 stitches and derma bond.
I'm not looking to take my son back to this facility due to the instructor's actions. What I am looking for is accountability and action so this doesn't happen to someone else child. This was a disheartening and traumatizing experience for my son and me as a parent of a special needs child.
The front staff (Holly) submitted a report and or a request for the owners to reach out to us on 4/23/24. It's been 48 hours and no contact has been made.
