Md. Cracker Barrel lays off three employees after denying service to students with disabilities

Md. Cracker Barrel lays off three employees after denying service to students with disabilities

Three Cracker Barrel employees in Maryland were fired after a group of disabled students and their teachers were turned away during a visit.

Three employees — including the general manager — at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Waldorf, Maryland, were fired after a group of disabled students and their teachers were turned away during a Dec. 3 visit.

The restaurant chain’s media department confirmed in a statement that it conducted an internal investigation after the chain received a complaint that students with intellectual and developmental disabilities were being denied service.

The restaurant promised to “advance specialized training for all employees in this particular business” and to have “a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination.”

However, it also disputed claims that the group of 11 students and seven teachers were denied service.

“We did not deny service to this group of students, but operational failures due to staffing shortages and poor communication on our part caused us to fall significantly short of our service standards,” the statement said.

Cracker Barrel representatives met with Charles County Public School officials and parents on Monday, December 9, and the chain’s media department said after that meeting, “We would be honored to host this student program if you would.” would give another chance.” ”

The company added that it hopes to have an ongoing discussion with school officials about “how we can best serve the community going forward.”

WTOP reached out to the school system but has not yet heard back.

Before Monday’s meeting, Charles County Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro said in a Dec. 5 letter to parents that while she was initially “disheartened” to hear how the group was treated during the trip, “It was encouraging to learn that the district manager said the company was willing to work with CCPS to achieve better results.”

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