Adelaide Airport has issued an apology after a man in a wheelchair was prevented from being picked up from a designated disability parking zone. Shane Hryhorec, a 41-year-old disability advocate and travel blogger from Port Adelaide, said his mother was blocked from collecting him when he arrived from Melbourne on Saturday.
Incident Details
Hryhorec told 7NEWS that he was on the phone with his mother, informing her he was just minutes away from the pick-up area. However, his mother reported a distressing interaction with a staff member. Hryhorec alleged the staffer yelled at his mother, stating, “You can’t park here if you haven’t got a permit,” before turning to him as he approached. The staffer then told Hryhorec to use the regular pick-up area or his mother could face a $400 fine.
“I was in shock,” Hryhorec said. “The reason that you need a disability parking permit is to prove that the person either you’re picking up or in the vehicle has a disability. What better proof can you get that I need to use that service than the fact that I’m sitting in a wheelchair with a service animal?”
Hryhorec, who is a C5 incomplete quadriplegic, experiences paralysis affecting his legs, torso, and hand function, though he retains some movement in his shoulders and elbows. He travels through the airport monthly and noted that the disability pick-up zone is rarely used. “It’s like the airport wants to keep it a hidden secret, it’s like they don’t want people with disabilities to use it,” he said. “And when we do use it, they make it very difficult and or try to let us not use it. It just does not make sense.”
Accessibility Concerns
Hryhorec emphasised that the standard pick-up area is unsuitable for people with disabilities due to a lack of curb access and safe stopping areas. “Anyone that’s been there before knows it’s so busy and chaotic,” he said. He described the experience as “heart-wrenching,” feeling upset and stressed when he should have been relieved to arrive home.
Airport Response
Adelaide Airport later apologised in a public comment under Hryhorec’s video. “Hi Shane, we have just reviewed your social media post highlighting your recent experience at Adelaide Airport,” the statement read. “We apologise for the frustration and distress this caused to you and your mother. We are investigating this matter and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this experience with you.”
However, Hryhorec revealed that the airport also sent him a direct message asking him to take down the video. “They haven’t called me or sent me an email, which is a little bit disappointing because clearly they don’t take this seriously if they haven’t made contact with me yet,” he said. “That they’ve reached out to me asking to take the video down shows that they care more about their public image than fixing this problem, which to me is extremely upsetting.”
Adelaide Airport executive general manager Dermot O’Neill told 7NEWS on Sunday that neither Hryhorec nor his mother would be fined. “Shane will not be receiving a fine nor will Shane’s mother be receiving a fine for the use of the area yesterday,” he said. “We’ll be working with our team to ensure they understand and have the right support around knowing how we can use that area and manage that discretion going forward.”
Hryhorec expressed a desire for more practical, accessible pick-up arrangements and better staff understanding. “I definitely feel for those with hidden disabilities because, I mean, if it’s like this for me, I mean, what is it like for others with disabilities?” he said.
