Greed Overtakes Common Sense: Pen Centre Store Takes Advantage of Man with Autism Last time it was a woman with Down Syndrome. This time it is a young man on the autism spectrum. Friday, the parents of 26 year old Tom found a package containing over $1100.00 worth of cosmetics in his room. Staff at “Adore” at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario had convinced him he had bags under his eyes and sensitive skin and needed these products to address these issues. When his parents confronted the store, the manager stated that although Tom “didn’t seem quite right” since he ”wasn’t wearing a bracelet or didn’t have an assistant holding on to his arm” they had no choice but to treat him like any other customer. His parents were told they could exchange the products but Tom cannot get his money back. He had signed a piece of paper marked “Finel Sale”. Store staff had checked that Tom had a job (McDonald’s) and said he agreed to everything. Tom’s parents have worked hard to help him be as independent as possible. Tom is already part of a program through the Autism Society that is helping him with issues, (hence the job at Mcdonald’s) including differentiating between appropriate and inappropriate friends. Of course his parents’ biggest fear is that he will be taken advantage of but they also want him to be as independent as possible. Yes, they realize that it is a risk for him to have a credit card and will attempt to have the limit lowered, but even this is a partial safeguard. They found out after they got home that he was at the store again on Friday, where he proudly said, even though he had another 'treatment', he didn't buy the $700 worth of products they suggested. He thought they were his friends. Organizations such as the Community Living and the Autism Society have been fighting for our vulnerable citizens to be 'treated like everyone else', and this is sometimes the result. Stores are in the business of making money. None-the-less, how is it that even after being presented with the facts, this store owner was not willing to do the ethical thing, and make this right. Clearly, greed overcame common sense. This was not a $100 learning experience. They might as well have mugged him and taken his wallet."
