Parents of special education students at Dr. James Craik Elementary School in Maryland are outraged after their children were denied service by a Cracker Barrel restaurant during a community-based instruction outing. The group, consisting of 11 students and seven staff members, had notified the restaurant beforehand but were still refused service. The students, who have autism and significant cognitive disabilities, were left waiting for over an hour before being asked to leave and eat lunch at the school.
Following the incident, the school district’s superintendent issued a statement expressing disappointment in Cracker Barrel’s handling of the situation. The restaurant cited a “staffing challenge” as the reason for the confusion, but apologized for falling short of expectations.
Despite the apology, parents were upset by the mistreatment of their children and organized a protest at the Cracker Barrel location. The protest, scheduled for December 15, aims to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by special education students and to challenge societal perceptions of children with different abilities. Parents hope that by speaking out, they can prevent similar incidents from happening in the future and ensure that all children are treated with respect and dignity.
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