British expat Alan Wells and his wife have been left devastated by Teikyo Hong Kong Kindergarten’s decision to deny their two-year-old physically disabled son the chance to continue his education there on the basis that “he cannot walk”.
Wells complained to the Equal Opportunities Commission in October, but the watchdog on Friday said it was considering discontinuing its investigation after taking the position that the “allegations appeared to be lacking in substance” and calling the school’s decision “justified”.
The school has also denied the allegations, arguing it lacks the resources needed to accommodate the boy.
But Wells, a 38-year-old finance worker who has lived in Hong Kong for 13 years, said: “I saw blatant discrimination here. This is a unilateral decision out of a lack of care and consideration exclusively applied to my son.”
The kindergarten’s decision meant Wells’ son was left without a school to attend and caused a delay in his education.
Wells said the family had also turned to the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong as the kindergarten was a Japanese school. They had received no response so far.
The finance worker’s son was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease that weakens the muscles, at just seven months old. The condition means he faces a lifetime of physical challenges.
