[humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's

Mon Jul 14 15:53:27 UTC 2014

It's not just Mickey D's folks. I went into a local Buffalo Wild wings
one time my first time going there mind you and it was by accident too
and was told my dog wasn't allowed. I didn't have time to push the
issue but did state that she was a Seeing Eye dog and was allowed to
accompany me into all public places. I was really looking for the UPS
store so I went on my way after obtaining it's location. I just
haven't had the chance to go back there and eat with my guide. Second
time around will be my pleasure though.
Danie and retired Eden

On 7/14/14, Alyssa Munsell via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> This seems like a tough situation. I don't use a guide dog, but I would be
> angry, too, if I walked into a restaurant and they told me no dogs are
> allowed. I completely understand the frustration and outrage about being
> discriminated against this way. I definitely don't know for sure because I
> wasn't there, but I wonder if the employee said the manager doesn't speak
> English because they got scared they'd get in trouble when you asked to
> speak to the manager, so they lied. They all looked scared and genuinely
> apologetic, especially the kid who first said no dogs were allowed, though
> I'm not excusing their actions. McDonald's is known for treating their
> employees badly, which includes limited training about important issues
> such
> as what to do if a service dog comes in. There are very limited job
> opportunities for people who do not speak English as their first language,
> so they're forced to be in low-paying, high stress jobs like McDonald's
> where they are not made aware of the U.S. laws and culture. I think
> McDonald's as a corporation needs to invest in properly training their
> employees. In my opinion, that's where the fault lies.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Denise
> Shaible via humanser
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 5:00 PM
> To: 'Merry Schoch'; 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>
> Merry,
>
> I remember a long time ago that there was a man in Ft. Lauderdale who had
> similar treatment at McDonald's and sued them.  I don't know if you
> remember
> this or not.
>
> I'm really shocked by this treatment but, it just goes to show you that no
> matter how much work is done to educate the public about dog guides, there
> are those who just don't want to be educated.  I got this from the fact
> that
> the Manager stated that she didn't speak English well so she wouldn't have
> to listen to your education.  Please send the link to the video so I can
> listen to tit.  I applaud all that Marion and you do for dog guide users
> and
> if you got angry, so what?  Having been a dog guide user in the past, I
> understand how frustrating it can be to go to restaurants.  I think anyone
> who criticizes you should think about how they would handle a situation of
> such blatant discrimination.
>
> Regards,
>
> Denise
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Merry
> Schoch via humanser
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 8:31 AM
> To: 'Dr. Chappell'; 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>
> Well before everyone views the video I will give a brief description of
> what
> happened before the video was taken.
>
> Marion and I walked into our local McDonalds- we have been in this
> restaurant hundreds of times.  I have lived in this area off and on since
> 1988 and permanent residence since 1997.  This area is great for
> pedestrians
> because it has  some stores and restaurants within walking distance -
> perfect for our lifestyle.
> Continuing on...
> We stood together in the lobby waiting for an available cashier for a few
> minutes.  When we approached the counter a  young man came from the back of
> the restaurant and stated that the manager said no dogs allowed. We shared
> these were service dogs and the cashier stated it as well.  I then asked to
> speak with his manager, he replied that his manager did not speak English.
> I was actually dumbfounded by this.  Ordered our food and got our drinks
> and
> sat down to eat.
>
> As we ate we discussed with each other that we needed to educate the
> manager
> before we left and video this interaction.  We were going to ask for a
> translater.  We video recorded  an introduction before moving towards the
> counter area.  As we began to move toward the counter area the manager
> approached us.
>
> Now some thoughts before we spoke to her.  Yes our neighborhood has a great
> deal of Hispanic speaking individuals, our local Latin American Grocery
> store has the best and cheapest Cuban sandwiches. Back to topic:  As we
> discussed over our meal although there is a great deal of Hispanic speaking
> individuals in our neighborhood there is more of  a percentage of English
> speaking people.  It did not make sense to us that McDonalds would put a
> manager in a restaurant that does not speak English well.  The video will
> show that the manager still claims she speaks little English.  After the
> recording, our cashier was in the lobby taking a break and I asked her if
> the manager spoke English she stated she did.  Unfortunately, as the video
> will demonstrate that the manager took no responsibility for her employees
> actions and basically threw them under the bus.
>
> We have worked in the past with this McDonalds to do local events and have
> contacted an authority within the Corporation.  I am sure we will hear from
> him on Monday.  He can view the video as well.
>
> I was a restaurant manager in 1984 and if something liked this occurred in
> my store; I would have been at my customer's table while eating, took their
> receipt, reimbursed them their money, gave them tickets for free meals on
> their next visit,and  I would have told them my employees were wrong in
> their behavior and I would train them appropriately.  This manager did none
> of these things and only appeared to have her employees do her dirty work
> and then be deceitful in the area of communicating with us.  Apologies are
> not well received when they don't appear genuine!
>
> This was not so brief but that is my perspective of the situation.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dr.
> Chappell via humanser
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 11:00 AM
> To: 'Marion Gwizdala'; 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>
> Marion,
> Thanks. I want to see what happened and get the overall gist.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion
> Gwizdala via humanser
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 10:52 AM
> To: 'Danielle Antoine'; 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>
> Dear All,
> 	I am not as tech savvy as some others, so I am getting a better link
> to this video so others may view it. I will send it out again soon.
>
> Marion
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle
> Antoine via humanser
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 12:35 AM
> To: Dr. Chappell; Human Services Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>
> I couldn't view as well. I don't have a Drop Box account so does that
> matter?
>
> On 7/11/14, Dr. Chappell via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Tried to view the video but I was unsuccessful. Could someone please
>> tell me about it...
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Marion Gwizdala via humanser
>> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 10:59 PM
>> To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List'; 'NFB of Florida Internet
>> Mailing List'
>> Subject: [humanser] Confronting Discrimination at McDonald's
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>>                 Here is a link to a video of my wife, Merry Schoch,
>> President of the NFB's Human Services Division and Vice President of
>> the Florida Association of Guide Dog Users (FLAGDU) confronting
>> discrimination at our local McDonald's!
>>
>>
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/xy8c6iqmjp8bglv/2014-07-11%2019.43.18.mov
>>
>>
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>>
>>
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> (813) 626-2789
>>
>> (888) 624-3841 (Hotline)
>>
>> President at nagdu.org
>>
>> http://www.nagdu.org
>>
>>
>>
>> High expectations create unlimited potential for the blind!
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> humanser mailing list
>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> humanser:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/mtc5%40cox.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> humanser mailing list
>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> humanser:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/singingmywayin%4
>> 0gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/marion.gwizdala%40veri
> zon.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/mtc5%40cox.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/merrys%40verizon.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/denise.shaible%40att.n
> et
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/alyssa53105%40comcast.
> net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/singingmywayin%40gmail.com
>