A DEAF teenager carer will miss out on a life-changing skiing trip because his family can't afford the hundreds of pounds for an interpreter.
Chris Martin will be forced to miss the trip – but his family believe the £2,500 should be paid by Derby City Council.
Anne said £950 is for Chris's travel and accommodation on the trip. Another £950 is for the interpreter to go and £750 is for the interpreter's wages.
The 15-year-old cares for his dad and will be left behind while his JCB Academy friends go on the trip if it is not paid by Thursday.
His mother, Anne Martin, says she has been left "mortified".
Anne, of Meadow View Close, Oakwood, said: "This is disgusting. Where are the equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws?
"Our son is being discriminated against because he is deaf.
"We feel that these activities are more important for Chris as social interaction and these sorts of 'away from home' experiences help him to become more confident and able to function in the hearing world.
"It's awful for him and it has left me feeling heartbroken. It's such a big thing for him, he really looks forward to it.
"The trip is great for him and means so much because it really builds his confidence," she added.
"It will be a break away from spending time caring for his dad because that is how he spends most of his time.
"It will be the last time he can go as well because he leaves next year.
"The council have told me they have provided funding in the past for him, so why won't they now?"
The trip is to Austria and is planned for February.
His dad, Anthony, is completely deaf and has kidney failure.
Anne said Chris started to lose his hearing between the ages of two and seven, despite being told by medics that they were confident he would not.
She said: "Chris is very clever. We have had to fight this prejudice all the way. It is awful for him.
"He is very gifted and is a fantastic son. He has fought and overcome a lot of stuff in his life."
Anne said Chris has got hopes of working with water in his future career after it was an early passion.
She said: "He is very determined and he can do anything he would like to do.
"He seems to be very interested in the rivers or a job to make sure people have a clean water supply.
"He just loves water and always has.
She said: "I really do not think it is a fair thing to do."
A spokesman for JCB said the company put in a request for the costs to be met but it was turned down.
Nobody at the school was available to comment.
Nobody at Derby City Council could respond by the time the Derby Telegraph went to print.
