Boy in Wheelchair Delayed Service at Cheddar’s Restaurant
posted on Feb 28 by Snow in the Disability Discrimination, Disability Law, Disability News, Wheelchair Accessibility Laws category
On Mother’s Day in 2010, a family (who wishes to remain anonymous) was waiting to be seated at popular Cheddar’s restaurant in Waco, Texas, but they were not seated for several hours. The reason? Their four year old son was in a wheelchair.
After waiting patiently and watching several other parties that arrived after them get seated at open tables ahead of them, the wife asked why they had not been seated yet. The family was told by a man who described himself as the general manager that Cheddar’s Restaurant has a policy to seat “able-bodied patrons before wheelchair-bound patrons.”
After the incident, the chairman and CEO of Cheddar’s restaurant chain, Kelly C. Baltes, issued a public apology to the family. “We want to apologize directly to the family involved and for any and all actions at the restaurant that were not consistent with our values, policies and practices. Our apology is sincere and comes from our heart” said Baltes.
According to KWTX News reporter Eli Ross, the man identified as the manager was also fired over the incident at a later date. In February 2011, the family and the restaurant chain reached a settlement agreement in the courts of Falls County, Texas. Details of the settlement have not been released, and the family of the four year old boy has declined to comment to news sources about the incident.
For a video clip on the news story from KWTX news, please visit:
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