Boy in a wheelchair had to crawl on board the bus

Published 17 October 2024 at 09.17

Domestic. A boy who uses a wheelchair has been repeatedly discriminated against when he has tried to take a bus with Skånetrafiken. This is confirmed by the Discrimination Ombudsman, DO, who is now requesting that Region Skåne pay SEK 120,000 in discrimination compensation to the boy.

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On at least 14 occasions over two years, bus drivers have either refused to help the boy with the bus lift, or the driver has lacked knowledge of how to use the lift, which has meant that the lift has not been able to be used.

The boy has several times forced to crawl on board the bus.

According to DO, the prohibition against discrimination in the form of lack of accessibility means that a carrier must work to ensure that the services offered are also accessible to people with disabilities. That responsibility does not only include creating a practical opportunity for people with disabilities to take part in a transport service through, for example, lifts, but also ensuring that there is a real opportunity to use the aids by, for example, ensuring that staff have knowledge of how to use the aids.

DO assesses that Region Skåne, which is responsible for Skånetrafiken, has exposed the boy to discrimination in the form of lack of accessibility on at least 14 occasions by not having taken reasonable measures that in practice made it possible for him to use the lift.

– The limitation of not being able to use public transport is a disadvantage in the sense of the Discrimination Act. The fact that the boy also had to crawl on board the bus, in front of other passengers, must of course be seen as very humiliating and offensive, says discrimination ombudsman Lars Arrhenius in a statement.

DO now requests that Region Skåne must pay SEK 120,000 in discrimination compensation to the boy. The region has until October 30 to take a position on DO's demands. The DO will then submit a lawsuit to the district court.