General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Family Kicked Out Of Golden Corral Restaurant Over Children's Skin Disorder [View all]thucythucy
(8,047 posts)restaurants do not have the right to refuse to serve people with disabilities just because they're disabled. Just as, since 1964, they have not had the right to refuse service to people because of their race or ethnicity. And I for one am hoping for the day when GLBT people are protected as well.
"A scary looking skin condition" is not a legal reason to exclude a child from being in public, restaurant or not. People who drooled used to be refused service. People who looked like they had AIDS. People who walked or talked funny, because "who knows if it might be contagious?"
That's precisely why the ADA was passed. The family has every right to make this a "federal case" and not just an i"solated" incident. The manager may have violated federal law, and if he did, the family is well within their rights to call him on it.
The ADA was passed 23 years ago. A restaurant manager is required to know about the ADA just as they're required to know about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a host of other laws--fire codes, health codes, sexual harassment policies, tax withholding, etc. etc.
Civil rights aren't decided on the basis of whim. "Oh, you have a scary looking problem, sorry, you aren't allowed in." That's why we have laws.