Disabled violinist Itzhak Perlman abandoned at Pearson airport

Itzhak Perlman, one of the world’s most acclaimed and talented classical musicians recently received a rough welcome at Toronto’s Pearson airport, when the disabled violinist was seemingly abandoned by a mobility assistant after arriving on an Air Canada flight.

Perlman had travelled to Toronto to participate in a benefit concert. A representative says the 68-year-old violinist’s recent struggle should help bring more awareness to the problems that people with disabilities continue to face in society.

“For him it is an opportunity to raise awareness so that people are more sensitive and accommodating,” said David Lai, president of the agency that represents Perlman.

Perlman told the National Post that he arrived at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Monday afternoon and was met by a disability assistant.

Perlman said the assistant helped him reach an elevator and then left him to negotiate the airport on his scooter with three bags, his crutches and his violin.

“I’ve been coming to Toronto for 40 years; this has never happened to me before like this, it’s just absolutely unbelievable,” Perlman told the newspaper.

“I felt so unwelcome, and it was funny; every place I would go there were big letters saying ‘Welcome to Canada.’”

David Lai, president of IMG Artists, said he has attempted to reach out to Air Canada but has so far not received word back from the company. Lai said the flight was booked with the understanding that Perlman would receive assistance getting through immigration, as stated in Air Canada’s services guidelines.

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"In a lot of airports it is possible to actually have someone go to the gate and escort him, and then there's no issue. In Canada for some reason it is a little more difficult, and some other international airports. So we have to make it clear that, if we can't send someone all the way to the gate, then someone from the airline or the airport needs to help him get all the way through,” Lai told Yahoo Canada News.

"Usually there is no issue, but in this case... someone was indeed there to meet him, but then left Mr. Perlman alone at an elevator, saying 'You are on your own from here.'"

Perlman is an Israeli-American violinist and conductor, considered to be among the most talented musicians of his generation.

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At four years old, Perlman was stricken by polio, leaving him reliant on crutches or a scooter for mobility. Hence, his need for airport assistance while travelling – something he does often.

Perlman was in Toronto on Monday for a benefit concert at Roy Thomson Hall to help inspire children affected by serious illness. He is scheduled to perform in Chicago, Turkey and Azerbaijan later this month.

Perlman flew out of Toronto on Tuesday in the company of another musician, which would dampened the need for assistance negotiating his way through the airport.

Still, Lai said it was important that a lesson be learned from the musician’s recent struggle.

“I think the main thing, from Mr. Perlman's perspective, is to highlight some of the challenges he and other disabled people have to go through,” Lai said. “Obviously a lot of it is not intentional disrespect, but we are still at an age when hopefully everyone is more sensitive about it.”