A Dublin teenager who has been left unable to attend his much-anticipated Debs because the chosen venue is not disability-accessible has urged schools to be more inclusive.
James Casserly, a pupil and disability activist from Lucan in county Dublin, joined his mother, Vicki Casserly, to share the powerful message which has amassed close to 150,000 views on TikTok in under 24 hours.
Admitting that they were left “hurt” by what had transpired, Vicki and James claimed that the Debs Committee at James’s school – Adamstown Community College in Lucan – had chosen a venue for the Debs which was not accessible to James as a wheelchair user.
“They didn’t even ask me [if I was going]” James, who had purchased a Debs ticket – which has now been refunded – said in the video. To compound matters, the school leaver was also unable to attend a leavers party on Wednesday night, organised independently from the school, because the venue is also not suitable for wheelchair access.
Mum Vicki said the pair had given a lot of thought as to whether or not to share details of what happened on social media, but Vicki said she felt that doing so could “make it better going forward for other people.”
Vicki, a councillor for Lucan, and Former Mayor of South Dublin County Council 2019-2020, is running in the local elections to retain her seat as for Fine Gael. The South Dublin councillor is a passionate disability advocate.
James, who has cerebral palsy, has his own social media account – Jimbo’s accessible adventures – which details his travels around Ireland’s 32 counties with friends and family. The schoolboy, aged 16, started blogging about his trips, during which he began reviewing the accessibility of public transport.
“We’re coming on today to have a little chat with you about a momentous day in our house. James is graduating from sixth year this evening in Adamstown,” James’s proud mum says in the viral five-minute clip.
@vickicasserly It’s a long one but important and we would love if you could share far and wide. #Inclusion is the heart of all that we do. This made us sad but we want to ensure this happens no one else. Anyone up to hosting a Debs for Jimbo 🥹 #disability #education #accessibility #debs #wheelchair #jimbosaccessibleadventures #access #equality #edchat #fyp #share #advocate #family #milestones
“And safe to say, since James started […] we have had many adventures, and James, along with the support of others, has done a huge amount of work in terms of accessibility and inclusion, and diversity in our school settings.”
“I am super proud of all you have done,” mum Vicki tells her son in the video, adding “I think you are amazing, I think you have changed the way a lot of us look at things and experience education and school life, especially with the football teams.”
“But what we want to talk about now is something that made us feel a bit hurt, and a bit sad. And we’ve given it a lot of thought about whether or not we’d come on social media to talk about it, but for the interests of others going forward, we thought it might be good to share the story, to make it better going forward, for other people.”
“So, after James graduates tonight, there’s a graduation committee and a Debs committee set up within the school to organise a night out after. The school are saying they are independent of it because of liability. I appreciate that, but I don’t think it takes away from the responsibility of the school in ensuring that inclusion is an option for everyone. So the venue for tonight that was booked has steps, so that won’t work with a wheelchair.”
“And they didn’t even ask me,” James said. “They didn’t ask James, so we kind of took that on the chin – went, ok, it’s graduation night out.”
“I’m going to the pub,” James laughs in the video.
While the family remained positive, they had been filled with disappointment when they discovered that the Debs Committee had chosen a venue for the end of year bash that was not accessible to James, who had already bought his tickets for the night.
They claim that despite being given the opportunity to change venue, the committee have insisted on the original venue.
“But then it came on to the debs. And Debs Ireland, to be fair, has been incredible. You have been more than helpful and we really appreciate all the efforts you went to.
“But the Debs committee chose a venue, despite being asked for any access requirements, they chose one that wasn’t accessible – they chose the only one that wasn’t wheelchair accessible, and the debs committee told them that I wasn’t going without even asking me before – so a conversation never took place.
“James bought his tickets. Debs Ireland gave options for the committee to change the venue to somewhere that was accessible and inclusive for everyone, but the committee turned it down.
“So why are we talking about this?” the mum of two continued.
“Two momentous evenings for anyone finishing sixth year, and James has been excluded. So, as a mum, this really upset me. It hurt me. I have cried.”
“It just made me feel like no one cared,” James said. I’ve done so much work, and I’ve been disrespected. I’ve been disrespected by the Debs Committee because they didn’t even ask me. They just went ahead and booked. The point is, there are lots of other venues that they’re engaging with, and they’re just saying no, we don’t want to change it. “
Vicki said the mother and son, going forward, would like to see schools locally and nationally, and even students, ensuring they are inclusive of everyone who attends the school when planning events.
My wonderful son @James22034777 has set up an Instagram page. His goal is to travel the country using public transport to document his accessible adventures. You might give him a follow. @dublinbusnews @IrishRail @Buseireann https://t.co/c4ONA2VbSn pic.twitter.com/3LFvPmvR5t
— Vicki Casserly (@vickicasserly) April 12, 2022
“It is so important, and I’m saying this as a mum. James is saying it as a self-advocate, that everyone has the choice to go, should they wish to do so. Let us all celebrate our milestones.”
Vicki said James has been given a refund for the Debs and for graduation because both venues are inaccessible. The mum said that while this was through no fault of Debs Ireland, she believes that schools have a responsibility when it comes to events being organised which are associated with the school, to “ensure inclusivity happens.”
“I am sad that James has to miss out on these two nights out. However, we will make the most of it, and we will try and take a positive, and that’s why we’re on today, to make sure that this doesn’t happen anybody else going forward,” she added.
James, when asked by his mum what his final wish before finishing secondary school is, replied: “To make sure everyone’s included, and to make sure nobody’s excluded or anything like that.”
Schools, the teenager said, have a responsibility to “make sure everyone’s included, and everyone’s happy, and everyone’s safe.”
Sharing the video on Instagram, Vicki wrote: “Anyone up to hosting a debs for Jimbo?”
In response, droves of social media users took to the comment section to congratulate James on his graduation, with many saying they were left speechless upon hearing what had happened.
“Wedding/event DJ here, happy to offer my services for free if you decide to have an event to celebrate James congrats!!,” user colleen.mp3 wrote on TikTok.
“Right where are we holding a personal debs for James ?? Let’s get it done,” another social media user chimed in.
Taking to Instagram, Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with an intellectual disability, congratulated the schoolboy on his achievements.
“It is no wonder your mum is so proud of you. We are so sorry to hear your experience of exclusion. A number of our team are parents of wonderful kids who have also sadly experienced this. We feel every word and expression in your video so so deeply,” it wrote.
“It’s important that each and every one of us takes a stand on inclusion because sadly stories like yours are all too familiar to our community.
“Thank you for being so brave and raising this important message.”