A general manager and two employees were removed from a Maryland Cracker Barrel after a group of special education students from Charles County Public Schools were refused service at the restaurant. The students, who had significant cognitive disabilities or autism, were participating in a community-based instruction outing. The incident sparked backlash, with parents organizing a protest at the restaurant and negative reviews flooding Yelp. Cracker Barrel executives met with district leadership to address the situation and stated that a staffing shortage led to the closure of the second dining room, leading to poor communication and an unacceptable experience for the students. The restaurant has since removed three employees, including the general manager, and opened an internal investigation. Yelp disabled reviews for the Waldorf location due to the increased public attention, but plans to re-enable reviews after the situation dies down. Additionally, a protest organized by a parent has garnered support from Facebook users across the country. Cracker Barrel issued a statement apologizing for the incident and emphasizing their commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all guests, with a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination. The situation has shed light on the importance of inclusivity and proper communication in public establishments, especially when serving individuals with disabilities.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com
