Yesterday, I just wanted a shake from Steak 'n Shake and was turned away. Today, I'm seeing how amazing the internet is:
Diversity, Inc.: Second Class Citizen
Emoms At Home: Standing up for a Friend and Fellow Blogger
The Consumerist: Steak 'n Shake Manager Denies Service
Henry Kisor: Making a Fuss
Laurel Papworth, Social Networks: Australia Event: Social Networks and P.R.
The Strategy Guy: Being Stupid
Joliet Herald News: Local Activist Sends Loud, Clear Message
Joliet Herald News: Steak 'n Shake Part Two
Business and Blogging: Crisis Case Study
Google Finance: The Steak 'n Shake Company
Slacker Manager: Steak 'n Shake, How Can Management Overcome This?
Deaf Pagan Crossroads: Why Can't I Get My Milkshake?
Just Thinkin': Turned Away at the Drive Thru for Being Deaf
Do It Myself Blog: Steak 'n Shake Questions Answered
Megite Business News: Steak 'n Shake Manager Denies Service to Deaf Mother
Emoms at Home: Sometimes Its Just About Mommies
The Hearing Exchange: Deaf Mom Shakes Up Steak 'n Shake
The Daily Herald: Woman Cites Hearing Problem in Dispute with Steak 'n Shake
WTMJ 620, Wagner on the Web: Maybe They Can Hear Her Now?
Bad American: Customer Service Horror Stories
So Good: Steak 'n Shake Manager Under Fire
Carpe Factum: Diversity or Adversity
Jim's Blog: Steak 'n Shake Denies Service
Spin Thicket: PR Nightmares
Kirkogitation: Controversial Milkshakes
My Wooden Spoon: Boycott Steak and Shake
A Cowboy's Wife: Boycott Steak and Shake
The Marketing Eggspert: What Steak and Shake Will Do For Its Customers
Growing Up With a Disability: Why We Need the ADA
Growing Up With a Disability: Steak 'n Shake Apology
Do It Myself Blog: Deaf Mom Denied Service
Is That Even Legal: Falling On Deaf Ears
Accessible Everything: Inaccessible Milkshakes
Deep Muck Big Rake: But The Emperor Has Nothing On At All
The Daily Grind: Outrageous
Jamie Berke, About.com: Two of the Hottest Things This Week
Do It Myself Blog: Deaf Mom Continues her Fight for a Milkshake
Slinkerwink: Fighting Back Against Discrimination
LeahLefler: Things That Really, Really Make Your Blood Boil
A Simple Desultory Dangling Conversation: How NOT to Do Customer Service
Chat With Bryen: Steak 'n Shake Denies Deaf Access
Palms to Pines: Would You Like Some Discrimination With That?
An American Mom in Tucsany: This One's for the Ladies
Ethan's World: Some Good, Some Bad
On the Wire: Steak 'n Shake Woes Loom
Cheryl Beryl: People Aren't Reasonable
Do It Myself Blog: FOX Airs Deaf Mom's Fight for a Milkshake
Single Work At Home Mom: Fast Food Restaurant Refuses Service to Deaf Woman
Berke Outspoken: Possible Solutions to Denied Milkshakes?
Laurie's Dance with Sound: Hearing Impaired and CI News
Adversity University Blog: End of the Week Gratitude Theme #12
Chronicles of a Bionic Woman: Karen, the amazon woman!
Lolypup: Civil Rights and a Milkshake
Sam Spritzer's Web Site: Beware of Hearing Impaired, Serve at your Own Risk
Deaf Weekly: Steak 'N Shake Flap Sparks Internet Storm
On the Wire: Steak 'n Shake Officials Meet with Customer
Starked San Francisco: Deaf Mother Denied Service at Steak 'n Shake
Jim's Thoughts: Ignorance
My Chronic Life: Steak 'n Shake Disgrace
Terrible Palsy: It's That Time of the Month
Ima On (and off) the Bima: Things That Make Me Crazy
Bad Cripple: Why the ADA is Needed
Growing Up With a Disability: Update on the Steak 'n Shake Discrimination
Hippie Spelunker: Steak 'n Shake Commits a Heinous Injustice
Hippie Spelunker: Steak 'n Shake Update
Hippie Spelunker: Serving Americans with Disabilities
Planet of the Blind: How Many Fingers Am I Holding Up?
I Am Not a Hamster: Steak 'n Shake Employee Shoots Company in the Foot
The Net-Savvy Executive: Why Companies Need to be Listening to Blogs
Happy Family At Home: I Love This!
I'm Adopting a Deaf Child with Ushers: A Glimpse of the Future?
Granfallon Books: Customer Service
Dispatch from the Third World: Steak 'n Shake Embarasses a Deaf Customer
Eternal Sunshine of an Empty Mind: I Can't Believe the Nerve of Some People!
Butterfly Like Me, Deaf: Drive Thru Service Reasons
Mulberry Summer: Unacceptable
Rolling Grains: Where ADA Compliance Was Taken off the Menu
Our Campaigns: Steak 'n Shake Denies Service
Today's Cool News: Even I Can't Hear What They're Saying
Waving with My Deaf Hands: I'm Proud of Karen, It's my Turn to Share
Fox News Blogs: Steak 'n Shake Violates the ADA
A Cowboy's Wife: Steak 'n Shake Follow-up & Comment Response
Erin's Mother: Not Giving Them One More Penny
Rachel's World: An Accessible World?
The Deaf Sherlock: Deaf Mom Power!
Random Digest: Steak 'n Shake Manager Denies Drive Thru Service
Andrea's Acadia Weblog: Service DENIED
Last night, shortly after calling the corporate headquarters via relay, an employee from their Human Resources division called me. She sent me an email apologizing for the incident. She called again this morning to see if we could set up a meeting with the manager in question and discuss the issue. They agreed to provide an interpreter for this meeting.
Stay tuned.
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29 comments:
Oh! Love it, I'm glad they are listening to you now! You get 'em, honey!!
I'm glad to hear they are responding to you.
Hi Karen,
You can add me to the list of supporters too, I just added an article on my blog called Inaccessible Milkshakes:
http://www.craiggrimes.com/2008/01/24/inaccessible-milkshakes/
*smiles* that's the power of the internet! Go girl!
Oh, it's cool. I'm glad to hear it.
So let me get this straight. The store manager completely breaks the law, inexcusably disses you, and now you're supposed to take valuable time out of your day to go meet with them and sort out this issue?
Seriously, I wouldn't go without a lawyer. Not that you have to sue them, but to make sure your a$$ is covered in this meeting. SERIOUSLY. (IF you decide to go at all!!)
Craig,
Thanks for the support!
I know, it's the ADA Warrior in me that is accepting this meeting. If I can make an impact on a corporation on a national level, then I'm all for it.
Remember, my kiddo saw the whole thing and now he gets to see his Mom in action-- a powerful life lesson.
Have you ever considered contacting the media about this?
Anonymous--
ABC and FOX news in Chicago are covering this.
If you don't take a lawyer, at the very least, bring a recording device. I'm not sure that a verbal apology is enough, are you? It would be nice to insist that Steak and Shake commit to ADA training from the corporate level... in writing. And signage that says, "If you have a hearing loss, please pull up to the window so we can serve you better." :)
That's great this unfortunate incident is receiving a lot of coverage!
WOW Karen! I just watched the news few minutes ago!! Hands waving in the air (clapping). You go girl!!!
Karen:
Just saw you on Channel 7. Way to go! You are my heroine!
At first I had thought the mope who dissed you was just another clueless fast-food worker, but the MANAGER of the place? This does not speak well for Steak 'n Shake's corporate operation.
I'm so glad everyone is rallying around you - that was entirely unacceptable! I wonder if we can see the clip from the news online somewhere... Please post them if you find them.
Oh, I have added a few more posts in my blog about your situation and I even ask my readers to join me in boycotting with this title: "Boycott Message for A Deaf Mom Shares Her World" I even provide a Steak and Shake's "feedback" link to send a message.
Jim
Karen, way to go.
As the mom to a deaf CI wearing toddler, I am all to familiar with people who just don't get it.. like the lady in the kids room at the YMCA who insisted that Terran remove his ears while in the center" so they don't distract the other kids".....
My family supports your actions with the evil shake horder. lol
Karen, way to go.
As the mom to a deaf CI wearing toddler, I am all to familiar with people who just don't get it.. like the lady in the kids room at the YMCA who insisted that Terran remove his ears while in the center" so they don't distract the other kids".....
My family supports your actions with the evil shake horder. lol
I mentioned this on your blog, too, but I posted a link elsewhere and another member of that forum said she saw this on TV last night! Were you on TV???
awesome, go get em!
Hi Karen!
My name is Megan and I'm an interior design student in Savannah GA but from Chicago. I heard of your story and I can't believe the situation.
Also it's driving home a very important point from an interior design perspective-- at the moment we are learning all about designing universally; following standards of ADA--Just goes to show how if places were better designed they could accommodate the masses!
Go get em girl!
I mentioned your story on both of my blogs a couple of days ago...and have had several interesting comments. (((HUGS)))
Karen:
I'm with you all the way! Hang in there - the best is yet to come. :)
You know how I always like to say that life is mysterious? Well, I think this unfortunate incident was supposed to happen and because of that, doors of opportunity will open up in ways you never before imagined would happen. Stay tuned and listen to your intuition. You are being guided.
I'm glad your getting so much support. The news segments are both very impressive. Way to go
Add me to the list of bloggers that have commented at Bad Cripple. Ugh, when if ever will people with disabilities ever be respected? This incident and many others like it are the norm.
Good Morning,
I know this is a little bit different from your post but it does relate in the way of corporations never try to assist the deaf, they would go any length into assisting other disabled patrons but not the deaf. Why not? Probably it's complicated or it probably costs too much money. I went to an event in Chicago (I'm a chicago resident) called Lollapalooza and they've refused to allow us to be closer to the interpreter because we couldn't see them and the conduct of the interpreter was terrible, anywhere from drinking while interpreting, smoking while working, even to the point ignoring the person who's talking by turning their back against us and stops signing. I was able to post only a 10 minute clip on youtube and I was wondering if you would be willing to view the whole thing and put in your 2 cents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHIaaBX0Fz8
email away at jshickey@gmail.com
Karen,
Thanks for your recent comment on my site. I was glad to support you. In fact, I think of you every time I approach a drive thru service! I have two pictures from different drive thru's that are hearing impaired friendly and will post them when I have a free moment! My bank recently installed a video screen and I can see myself or the teller and understand everything! Also, Starbucks in my town is very supportive, too, and has two HOH workers!
Keep up the good fight. . . you are making a difference!
Thanks to everyone here for all the support. I look forward to positive changes as a result!
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