CHARLES COUNTY, Md. - A group of disabled students were turned away from a Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, MD last week.
11 students and seven staff members from Charles County Public Schools made a visit to Cracker Barrel as part of a program that includes community-based instruction to practice skills they are learning in the classroom.
They called the restaurant ahead of time and were told no reservations were necessary.
But when they arrived at Cracker Barrel, the group was declined service – and asked to no longer include the restaurant as part of their community-based instruction.
The restaurant did allow the group to order takeaway.
"Our students and staff are our No. 1 priority, and we are disheartened to learn about the alleged treatment they received while participating in an activity designed to educate our students using real-world applications. The alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience," said CCPS Superintendent Maria Navarro in a statement last week.
Cracker Barrel released the following statement:
"At Cracker Barrel, we strive to create a welcoming environment for all our guests, and we understand that a recent visit by this group to our Waldorf location fell short of those expectations. A staffing challenge that day led to the closure of part of our second dining room, creating confusion that impacted the group’s experience. We take this matter seriously and are working directly with the group’s leadership to better understand what happened, extend our apologies, and make things right."
Navarro said in her statement that it "is encouraging to learn that the district manager said the business would be willing
to work with CCPS to do better." She also noted that other retailers and restaurants in the area have reached out to offer their locations for future outings.