Report: Family with Autistic Son Denied Pool Access at Ellington Ridge Country Club

Ellington Ridge Country Club employees have apologized after a local mom claimed her autistic son was denied access to the club's swimming pool because she wanted him to wear a life jacket.

The club's policy bars flotation devices in the pool, but Cristin Millen, of Ellington, said when she went to sign up for a club membership Monday, she alerted staff that her son was diagnosed with autism, and needed to wear a safety vest, according to a WFSB report.

After being told to wait on submitting an application form until the club got back to her, Millen said she was ultimately denied access when her husband called the club Wednesday to check back.

The club's president, Richard Burness, said he's sorry for the "miscommunication."

"We did not receive an application for membership," Burness told WFSB. "We do not discriminate, in fact, we have a number of members who are disabled, or have family members who are disabled. And we'd make every accommodation that we could."

Club officials are working with the family on becoming members, WFSB reports.

For more on the story, visit WFSB online.