A legally blind New York woman sued several fast food restaurants for ridiculing her when she asked for help reading their menus, but a federal judge threw out the suit on the grounds that “ADA laws don’t regulate ‘rudeness or insensitivity’ of workers.” Last week, however, an appeals court overturned that ruling and now the suit—” believed to be the first of its kind—could go before a jury this year.”
Camarillo said annoyed workers served other customers before reading her just a partial list of their offerings. Camarillo can read large print when she holds it close, but can’t make out most menus.
During a visit to Burger King, employees “laughed and stared” and pointed her in the direction of the men’s room when she asked for a bathroom, she claims.
At Taco Bell, a cashier told her to wait until the rest of the customers had ordered.
Here’s what the appeals court had to say about the matter:
“Put simply, Camarillo cannot experience full and equal enjoyment of defendants’ services if she is unable to access the list of the services available to her,” the appeals court said.“While restaurants are not necessarily required to have on hand large print menus that Camarillo would be able to read, they are required to ensure that their menu options are effectively communicated to individuals who, like Camarillo, are legally blind,” the judges wrote.
(Thanks to Jim!)
“Fast food employees mocked a blind woman who needed help reading menu” [Daily News]
(Photo: _e.t)
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oh wow! no really! wow! that’s so clever how you switched my name up like that, only about 102 other people before you have done that, and oh boy grrrrr yeah it just makes me so gosh-darned mad! Why I could just spit! :/
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I don’t see what’s so bad about saying get some shades, admit it, that shit is shocking. pasta called it deformed. It doesn’t seem deformed to me, just missing the eye. I found it disturbing and said as much, and I know that you aren’t suggesting I shouldn’t be allowed to voice my opinion. I don’t walk around on the beach with a bathing suit covering just my remaining tit while exposing my garish mastectomy scars, and then expect people not to notice. That’s right though, it’s illegal for me to walk around with an uncovered chest, whether there be a tit atop it or not. I also don’t see what’s wrong with expressing my opinion on people who show up at a fast food restaurant and don’t know what the fuck they want. I am tolerant of many, many things, but that will never be one of them. And for the life of me, I can’t understand why you are so upset about my observation that fast food restaurants have had the same menu’s for the past 20 years. Are you guys in charge of new menu items at some fast food place or something, and you’re upset I haven’t noticed? Ok Ok, you guys have introduced a myriad of new items, and by myriad I mean 2. And the woman does say she goes to these restaurants all the time, not rarely, and certainly not so rarely that she would forget what they served. In any event, I should have realized that some of you boys have a tendency to be over-emotional and sensitive about the most random of things, so consider this an official apology to your tender self of steams. Now, if you have a need to nag at me further, you’ll have to find me in a more recent thread
I find it amusing that the blind lady actually thinks the idiot behind the fast food counter can read!
@savdavid: i was a minimum wage paid teenager working at burger king. i was helpful to folks of a variety of disabilities. yes, they should be paid more but attitude is something a manager should be coaching to. it shows poor leadership when their employees are insensitive to disabilities.
@Trick: hahahaha!
@alphafemale: you make a good point.
When I*point to eye* was done pointing and laughing at her (lots of pointing), I think the employees had “an eye” for the solution. The problem is have her bitch or EVERYONE else bitch, Its a lose, lose. Proper response is “look sideshow, while I *point to eye* can appreciate your right to be allowed out of the cage once and a while, you can’t come in here just ****LOOK OUT*** oh…that was nothing. Thank you for patronizing this fine establishment.
Bottom lime – you wanted to be treated like everyone else YOU WIN. They treat everyone like shit and can you blame them? Hell, we only see them at work can you imagine how bad their life must be outside of it? Makes me want to make fun of the disabled just thinking about it. Has anyone seen my midget?? That little rascal!!!
-I’m not satisfied until you’re not satisfied.