An administrative law judge has sided with a man who challenged Universal Studios Orlando because the theme park would not allow motorized wheelchairs in the customer lines for rides.
Judge Linzie Bogan, in a 14-page recommended order Friday, concluded that Universal violated the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 by discriminating against Javier A. Muniz-Pagan, who uses a motorized wheelchair because of a degenerative condition.
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Bogan's recommendation goes to the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Muniz-Pagan went to the theme park in July 2016 and was not allowed to use his motorized wheelchair to wait in line for rides.
A Universal official testified the park did not allow motorized wheelchairs because of safety concerns for other people in the lines and for operators of the wheelchairs, according to the ruling.
The theme park would have provided a manual wheelchair, but Muniz-Pagan said, at least in part, that such a wheelchair would not have provided the support and stability he prefers.
Bogan wrote that it is “reasonable to conclude that petitioner (Muniz-Pagan) was a victim of unlawful discrimination” by the park.
“Respondent (Universal) offered no evidence that would support a finding that allowing power-driven wheelchairs in its attraction queues would fundamentally alter the services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations that it provides to its patrons,” the ruling said.