Autistic Man Called “Stupid” By Gym Staff Teaches Himself Law, Sues The Company And Wins
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When Ketan Aggarwal, a 30-year-old Londoner with autism, was ridiculed by a spin class instructor at his local Virgin Active gym, he decided to take retribution into his own hands. After spending 2 years teaching himself law with the help of library books and online resources, he took Virgin Active to court – and won.
In a distressing May 2015 incident, Aggarwal was reportedly called ‘stupid’ multiple times by the accused gym staff member during a spin class, and was rudely berated for requesting a change of music. He made an official complaint, but was ignored, which led him to file a legal claim. Representing himself in court, he ended up victorious, and was awarded £1,390 as well as a written apology from Virgin Active. The instructor was dismissed from his job at the gym.
“When someone discriminates [against] someone with a mental disability, they don’t think they are going to pick up law, submit a legal claim and then successfully argue it in a court of law,” Aggarwal publicly stated. “It felt amazing to win.”
This is Ketan Aggarwal, an autistic man who was repeatedly called ‘stupid’ by a gym instructor
Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal
The 30 y/o Londoner decided to sue Virgin Active after his complaint to the gym was ignored
Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal
He spent 2 years teaching himself law, with the help of library books and online resources
Image credits: Peter Stack
Representing himself in court, Aggarwal proved that he had been discriminated against
Image credits: Unknown
In a sweeping victory, Virgin Active was ordered to pay him a total of £1,390 in compensation
Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal
They were also ordered to issue a written apology, all Aggarwal really ever wanted
Image credits: Google Maps
“It wasn’t about the money…” he publicly stated, but added that “it felt amazing to win”
Image credits: Ketan Aggarwal
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Who are those people? What makes them call people stupid, just because they may be different to them? How can they look themselves in the eye? And now the guy lost his job. Was it worth it? But what makes it even more bad is, that the company didn't react on his complains in the first place. Instead they did defend their instructor against all common sense, like it happens most of the time as well in other cases. They really should feel ashamed, but I know that they won't. Glad, he taught them a lesson and had the courage to go all the way.
The biggest joke is, there was no improvisation needed, he just asked for the music to be changed, IN A SPIN class, they are just cycling there, no choreography or actual teaching involved most of the time. Also why would you call someone stupid if they ask you to change the music??? (Most autistic people are sensitive to sound.)
I am autistic and I'm also sensitive to the sound level.
A physical class like this is very different to a class where you sit at the desk. the music has to have the right tempo at varying points of the class. Autistic or not, he was in the wrong to ask for the music to be changed. The instructor was wrong to call him stupid etc. But was he aware that Aggarwal was autistic? Did he call him stupid because he is autistic or because he made a stupid request - very different things. I am on the spectrum but in my day-to-day interactions with people, they would not automatically assume that I am autistic. It would be wrong of me to assume anything negative said about me was because of it.
Rachel Summers no
If an instructor called someone stupid in one of my classes, I would flip. How did no one speak up for this gentleman? Shaking my head.
Right on. If Found myself in that class and someone called a custermer stupid, I would have intervened.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So, you are telling me that if you were a teacher or instructor and someone in the class asked you to just fuck away with everything you prepared and improvise on the spot because they don't like the music or something stupid like that, you would do it? You wouldn't feel offended? You weren't there, you don't know what happened. Maybe it wasn't the instructor's fault and this guy is just an asshole who only won because he is legally disabled.
Good teachers would be able to adapt a class to suit the client base. Bad teachers blame the client and have no business teaching.
Irina Reid like
You're telling me, that I wasn't there, but you made most of what you are saying up. Of course, I wasn't there, but your assumption, that he just won, because he is disabled is just... I don't know what makes you say things like this, but the court decision doesn't look like it at all. And still, if it was like you are saying, the least I can expect from someone that is working with people is, that they act like professionals and stay above things like this. If it even happened, because it doesn't say anything like this at all. And the fact, that the instructor got fired doesn't support your story as well. You on the other hand sound pretty bitter. Not sure what happened to you, but I wish you all the best!
People with autism frequently do not understand or exhibit the same social cues a lot of us take for granted, so while this man probably thought he was just expressing an opinion the trainer may have felt judged or that it was an imposition, so I can understand to some extent that he would feel challenged. However, responding to a challenging individual by calling them "stupid" is not a good way to handle the situation. Ultimately, I think this was all one big misunderstanding and probably will remain so since these people probably won't come to understand each other.
The instructor deserved to be dismissed . Whatever the handicap, it makes life more difficult for those that have it. Help should always be available to those that need or want it. Handicapped individuals deserve respect & should be listened to. This young man get 'High Fives"
This comment has been deleted.
Rowan James +
Hats off to u!!! Glad u cld do the lawsuit.
Who are those people? What makes them call people stupid, just because they may be different to them? How can they look themselves in the eye? And now the guy lost his job. Was it worth it? But what makes it even more bad is, that the company didn't react on his complains in the first place. Instead they did defend their instructor against all common sense, like it happens most of the time as well in other cases. They really should feel ashamed, but I know that they won't. Glad, he taught them a lesson and had the courage to go all the way.
The biggest joke is, there was no improvisation needed, he just asked for the music to be changed, IN A SPIN class, they are just cycling there, no choreography or actual teaching involved most of the time. Also why would you call someone stupid if they ask you to change the music??? (Most autistic people are sensitive to sound.)
I am autistic and I'm also sensitive to the sound level.
A physical class like this is very different to a class where you sit at the desk. the music has to have the right tempo at varying points of the class. Autistic or not, he was in the wrong to ask for the music to be changed. The instructor was wrong to call him stupid etc. But was he aware that Aggarwal was autistic? Did he call him stupid because he is autistic or because he made a stupid request - very different things. I am on the spectrum but in my day-to-day interactions with people, they would not automatically assume that I am autistic. It would be wrong of me to assume anything negative said about me was because of it.
Rachel Summers no
If an instructor called someone stupid in one of my classes, I would flip. How did no one speak up for this gentleman? Shaking my head.
Right on. If Found myself in that class and someone called a custermer stupid, I would have intervened.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So, you are telling me that if you were a teacher or instructor and someone in the class asked you to just fuck away with everything you prepared and improvise on the spot because they don't like the music or something stupid like that, you would do it? You wouldn't feel offended? You weren't there, you don't know what happened. Maybe it wasn't the instructor's fault and this guy is just an asshole who only won because he is legally disabled.
Good teachers would be able to adapt a class to suit the client base. Bad teachers blame the client and have no business teaching.
Irina Reid like
You're telling me, that I wasn't there, but you made most of what you are saying up. Of course, I wasn't there, but your assumption, that he just won, because he is disabled is just... I don't know what makes you say things like this, but the court decision doesn't look like it at all. And still, if it was like you are saying, the least I can expect from someone that is working with people is, that they act like professionals and stay above things like this. If it even happened, because it doesn't say anything like this at all. And the fact, that the instructor got fired doesn't support your story as well. You on the other hand sound pretty bitter. Not sure what happened to you, but I wish you all the best!
People with autism frequently do not understand or exhibit the same social cues a lot of us take for granted, so while this man probably thought he was just expressing an opinion the trainer may have felt judged or that it was an imposition, so I can understand to some extent that he would feel challenged. However, responding to a challenging individual by calling them "stupid" is not a good way to handle the situation. Ultimately, I think this was all one big misunderstanding and probably will remain so since these people probably won't come to understand each other.
The instructor deserved to be dismissed . Whatever the handicap, it makes life more difficult for those that have it. Help should always be available to those that need or want it. Handicapped individuals deserve respect & should be listened to. This young man get 'High Fives"
This comment has been deleted.
Rowan James +
Hats off to u!!! Glad u cld do the lawsuit.