South Yorkshire dad's anger as bowling alley deny request for autistic son due to 'electricity bill'

The father of an autistic four-year-old boy has said he was left '˜disgusted' after a bowling alley refused their request to bowl in another area because of the '˜electricity bill'.
Matt, with wife Stephanie and son RileyMatt, with wife Stephanie and son Riley
Matt, with wife Stephanie and son Riley

The father of an autistic four-year-old boy has said he was left ‘disgusted’ after a bowling alley refused their request to bowl in another area because of the ‘electricity bill’.

Matt Dawson and his wife Stephanie from Swinton, wanted to take their son Riley bowling. Due to his disability, he has difficulty processing strobe lights and really loud noises which causes a sensory overload.

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Superbowl in Kimberworth, Rotherham have twice catered for the family letting them bowl downstairs away from the loud noises and flashing lights.

Previously the manager offered them a refund or suggested he could open the downstairs.

The family were allowed to get in from the outside fire exit and Riley had a great day.

But when mum Stephanie rang up a third time, the manager in charge for the day refused to accommodate their request because ‘it would use too much electricity’.

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Furious dad Matt told Action Desk: “Because of the ignorant and callous view of this Super Bowl employee, Riley has had to miss out on an activity he really enjoys and we love doing with him so they can save a few pence on their electricity bill.

“We weren’t asking for something for nothing or any form of discount, just simply to let our son enjoy something he likes doing just like other young children do but sadly this wasn’t possible.

“We aren’t asking out of preference, it’s simply an impossibility for us to use the upstairs.

“It’s people with ignorant views like this who make our lives that much more difficult and I find it absolutely disgraceful that establishments can still be so ill-informed and misguided.”

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But Lee Barnes, manager of Superbowl in Kimberworth denied the manager on shift would have mentioned the electricity.

“I doubt he would’ve said that, to be honest,” he said.

“The family have been in before and we’ve done it so I don’t understand why they think we wouldn’t do it again and maybe it’s a misunderstanding.

“As the general manager for the building, nobody has spoken to me or complained to me to let me look into it.

“We cater for all disabled groups and obviously we’re a business we have to be cost- effective to deliver the prices we offer to disabled groups which is reduced.

“We’d have to weigh up the decision based on what staff we had on.”