Parathlete denounces discrimination after being asked about disability at airport in Acre: 'Embarrassing'

Para-athlete from Acre João Fernando Fontenelle, 26 years old, claims to have been a victim of ableism after having his disability questioned when boarding a Latam Airlines flight, in the early hours of this Tuesday (10), at Rio Branco International Airport.

To g1, the athlete, who is the current Brazilian record holder in the shot put, said that a company employee demanded the presentation of a medical report in the preferential check-in line and stated that he "did not appear to be a person with a disability". He was born with bilateral pes cavus, a condition that affects both feet.

"I said I had a report, but I had never been asked about it. He started looking me up and down, as if I was lying. My teacher, who had already passed, had to tell me that I was with the team. That's when he let me pass", he says.

In a statement, Latam said that it strongly repudiates any type of offense or discriminatory practice and that attitudes contrary to this principle do not reflect its values. "Latam is analyzing the case with due seriousness", informed the text. (See the full note below)

Even after getting authorization to continue, João said he was approached by the employee again. "He said: 'But that's because you don't look like someone with a disability'. I replied that I was disabled, yes. After everything, it dawned on me that I was a victim of ableism", he says.

In addition to the coach, João was accompanied by two other athletes. The group used the preferential boarding line to travel to São Paulo, where the Acre native is participating in the Brazilian Paralympic Athletics Championship, between this Thursday (12) and Saturday (14) at the Ibirapuera Stadium.

João also states that due to the rush to board and the fear of missing the flight, he ended up having no reaction at the time of approach.

"It wasn't even the way he asked, but the way he treated me, as if I was lying. I was in shock and people were looking at me, that was very embarrassing," he says.

The Associação Paradesportiva Acreana published a note rejecting the case and in defense of the para-athlete. "Our athlete wasn't asking for a favor. He was exercising his right to come and go, to represent Acre with dignity and pride. He overcame barriers that many can't even imagine, to get where he is," he criticized.

Note from Latam

LATAM Airlines Brasil informs that it is analyzing the case with due seriousness. LATAM's procedures always aim to comply with current regulations and any deviations will be used to reinforce and reorient the teams to ensure respectful, inclusive and accessible service to all passengers.

The company reiterates that it vehemently repudiates any type of offense or discriminatory practice and that attitudes contrary to this principle do not reflect its values.

APA note

The ASSOCIAÇÃO PARADESPORTIVA ACREANA publicly expresses TOTAL REPUDIATION to the act of discrimination suffered by our Paralympic athlete, member of the Acreana Delegation, by an attendant from the airline LATAM.

Even though he was properly uniformed, identified and with his delegation, our athlete was embarrassed and had his disability questioned by the attendant, on the grounds that his disability was "not visible".

Not all disabilities are visible. There are intellectual, hearing, organic disabilities, rare diseases, autism, among many others that are not visible on the face. Questioning, doubting and humiliating a person for this reason is ableism, it is violence and it is a crime.

Our athlete wasn't asking for a favor. He was exercising his right to come and go, to represent our State, with dignity and pride. He trained, dedicated himself, overcame barriers that many can't even imagine, to get to where he is.

WE DEMAND:

Rigorous investigation of what happened and accountability of the employee involved;

URGENT training of all its attendants on the rights of People with Disabilities, invisible disabilities and humanized care;

Guarantee that no other athlete or PWD goes through this again

The Brazilian Inclusion Law (Law 13,146/2015) guarantees priority service without discrimination. What happened violates the law, violates human dignity and violates the entire Paralympic movement. To our athlete: you are our pride! It's not you who should be ashamed. Those who should be ashamed are those who still judge a body by its appearance. We are with you. Let's not remain silent!