Man claims cafe refused to serve him and looked like they'd 'seen a ghost' because of his facial tumours
Amit Ghose has a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which causes benign tumours to grow on his nerves.
The 35-year-old was visiting his sister Shilu Sen in Wood Green, London, last month when they went out for a coffee.
When he entered a cafe he says he noticed people were looking at him 'like they'd seen a ghost'.
As Amit ordered a drink, he says he was told by staff that they were 'no longer serving'.
Amit, an author and motivational speaker, said: 'We as people with visible differences face this discrimination time and time again.
'I went into this coffee shop and it was full people, mainly men, and they were all just staring at me, like they'd seen a ghost.
'The barista told me they weren't serving anymore, and then just turned and walked away.
'It was not a good feeling obviously - I felt neglected.
'It's not very inclusive, it's not acceptable to be subjected to that kind of behaviour.
'I was disheartened walking out that coffee shop. But I went to another one an hour later and they were really lovely.'
Amit, from Birmingham, was born with the rare genetic condition that affects approximately one in 2,500 to 3,000 people worldwide.
At the age of 11, Amit had his left eye surgically removed which led to him wearing an eye patch for six months while his prosthetic eye was built.
Despite his disability, Amit gives talks in schools about his condition and has written a children's book called 'Born Different.'
He said: 'A kid once said to me: "You don't need a Halloween mask, you've got one for life."
'That comment absolutely broke me, I still think about it every Halloween.'
At the age of 11, Amit had his left eye surgically removed which led to him wearing an eye patch for six months while his prosthetic eye was built
After learning to 'accept' his facial difference and with the support of his wife Piyali, 28, Amit started sharing his story online to help others.
He has gained 300,000 followers across his social media platforms over the past two years, and even quit his job as a regional manager at a law firm to pursue a career as a motivational speaker, content creator. and a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Business Partner.
Amit added: 'People with visible differences are human beings.
'I want to help other people find validation and security in themselves.'
FACT BOX TITLE
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition where tumours grow on the nerves and skin.
NF1 is a lifelong condition that usually gets worse over time.
It is caused by an altered gene and ometimes the altered gene is passed on to a child by one of their parents (inherited).
But sometimes a child can be born with NF1 even if their parents do not have the altered gene.
If you have NF1, there's a 1 in 2 (50%) chance of passing the affected gene on to any children you have.
There's currently no cure, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Symptoms of NF1 can include:
Light brown patches of skin (café-au-lait spots) – these may be harder to see on brown and black skin
Freckles in your armpits or around the tops of your legs lumps on or just under your skin (neurofibromas) that can be painful or itchy – these tend to appear during the teenage years or early 20s
Yellow-brown raised dots on the coloured part of your eye (iris) that do not usually affect vision
Eye problems, such as a squint, reduced vision, or a bulging eye (which can sometimes cause further symptoms like headaches or feeling and being sick)
A large head and below average height
Learning difficulties
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