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A Lake County man, living with obsessive compulsive disorder, is getting ready to file a lawsuit against Walt Disney World. He says the theme park didn't allow him to take short breaks to help him deal with the disorder and then fired him, but Disney officials told Eyewitness News a very different story Wednesday.
Disney said it takes such matters very seriously. In fact, the company even has its own doctors to help determine what accommodations to give employees. But Jay DiMaio says he wasn't offered help, he was fired and now he's suing.
Jay will wash his hands three times in a single visit to the bathroom. In his bedroom, there's a certain order.
"Everything has to have a place," he said.
Jay has obsessive compulsive disorder and suffers anxiety attacks.
"The best way to describe OCF is 'hell,'" he said.
With medication, therapy and frequent breaks, Jay is able to hold a job, at least that's what he thought. He says Disney wouldn't allow him to take the breaks he needs to control his disability and they fired him.
"She told me, 'Look, we have to terminate you,'" he said.
Jay said his supervisors even refused to look at his doctor's note that spells out the accommodations he needs.
"I said, 'Will you at least read the letter from my doctor and make some concessions?' And she said, 'No, we are Disney, there are certain rules and we can't make any concessions,'" he said.
But Disney says Jay isn't telling the truth. They released the following statement: "It is our practice to address employment matters directly and confidentially with our employees, but given that he has chosen to mischaracterize the facts, we can tell you he was hired, resigned, rehired and resigned again. He has been offered multiple roles which he declined and his status remains available for rehire."
But Jay maintains he was treated unfairly.
"I personally feel, if the founder of Disney, Walt, were still alive today, he would not let this happen," he said.
Jay said he has hired an attorney to get back pay, his job back and prevent it from happening again.
Disney said it takes such matters very seriously. In fact, the company even has its own doctors to help determine what accommodations to give employees. But Jay DiMaio says he wasn't offered help, he was fired and now he's suing.
Jay will wash his hands three times in a single visit to the bathroom. In his bedroom, there's a certain order.
"Everything has to have a place," he said.
Jay has obsessive compulsive disorder and suffers anxiety attacks.
"The best way to describe OCF is 'hell,'" he said.
With medication, therapy and frequent breaks, Jay is able to hold a job, at least that's what he thought. He says Disney wouldn't allow him to take the breaks he needs to control his disability and they fired him.
"She told me, 'Look, we have to terminate you,'" he said.
Jay said his supervisors even refused to look at his doctor's note that spells out the accommodations he needs.
"I said, 'Will you at least read the letter from my doctor and make some concessions?' And she said, 'No, we are Disney, there are certain rules and we can't make any concessions,'" he said.
But Disney says Jay isn't telling the truth. They released the following statement: "It is our practice to address employment matters directly and confidentially with our employees, but given that he has chosen to mischaracterize the facts, we can tell you he was hired, resigned, rehired and resigned again. He has been offered multiple roles which he declined and his status remains available for rehire."
But Jay maintains he was treated unfairly.
"I personally feel, if the founder of Disney, Walt, were still alive today, he would not let this happen," he said.
Jay said he has hired an attorney to get back pay, his job back and prevent it from happening again.
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