I was contacted by the massage therapist to adjust the schedule time of my massage, which was fine with me, but I also took that opportunity to discuss an accommodation that I needed. I didn't ask for anything inappropriate, and I would never visit a place that would entertain inappropriate requests. My massage appointment was pretty abruptly canceled. I needed my wife present in the room so that I could relax instead of tense up during the massage.
I shared the full text of the conversation with a close friend in another state that is also a massage therapist, because I was pretty upset that I said something wrong to make the lady uncomfortable. I was assured that my request was actually pretty normal, and that I should have shared some additional details about why I needed that accommodation that I had left out. I was also told that if the therapist I talked to had the same training that my friend has, she also would not have seen the request as odd. I was advised by my friend to attempt to speak to a manager, and she stressed that it needed to be a phone call, not an email, and discuss my needs and disclose the full reason I needed the accommodation, and see if there was another therapist that would be a good fit. My request for a phone call with the manager was responded to with an email that made some very incorrect assumptions about why I was unset, and unwillingness to further discuss the matter.
My wife would actually need the same accommodation that I do, just for very different reasons, as she is blind. I suspect that she would have the same experience I had. I understand that misunderstandings can happen, but when a place is unwilling to resolve them, then that becomes a problem. I would not recommend going to this place if you need any kind of special accommodation.
As someone that has a very close friend that is a massage therapist, I am acutely aware of the need of massage therapists to feel safe with clients, and have the ability to screen clients. Clients also have the need to be able to feel safe and relax during the experience as well though.
Finial interaction with manager was quite hostile on her part, and I suspect sexist. read more
