Blind Georgian says he was denied ride at county fair

From FOX 5 in Atlanta:

GWINNETT COUNTY – A disabled Lawrenceville man said he was considering legal action after he wasn't allowed on a Ferris wheel at the Gwinnett County Fair.

It's called the Big Wheel at the Gwinnett County Fair, but on Saturday David Thurmond, who is legally blind said he and his 7-year-old son Jared, who has cerebral palsy were denied a ride on the fair's Ferris wheel.

"They effectively indicated that they did not know what my behavior would be and that they were afraid that I might somehow leap off the ride and fall 150 feet," said Thurmond.

The ride's operators defended the decision not let Thurmond and his son on the big
wheel in light of what happened in California last year.

"A young boy jumped out of the wheel, the same wheel we have. The mother insisted that the boy get on so he did and that's what happened so that has changed the rules for that ride," said Rob Vivona of Amusement of America.

Ride operators said the rules apply to everyone and that Thurmond could have ridden with his son if his wife or another adult had gone along to make sure the little boy could not get out.

Thurmond said they rode 16 rides at the fair before getting on the Ferris wheel ride. The operators of the ride said there was a big difference between the big wheel and the other rides.

"There is no lap bar, there is nothing to keep a person there other than their own sense to sit there and behave," said Vivona.

"I'm an individual with a college degree. I think I have enough sense not to jump off the top of a Ferris wheel," responded Thurmond.