tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post5458252794842906885..comments2023-09-14T01:35:31.437-07:00Comments on Overcoming Movement Disorder: Bertrand was refused service at California Pizza Kitchen.Cristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05624255220638749596noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-82109028670339866912011-02-09T13:40:08.084-08:002011-02-09T13:40:08.084-08:00I work at CPK and the restaurant I work in is love...I work at CPK and the restaurant I work in is loved by our guest for the extreme measures we take to accomodate the guest with the strollers. We are located at a mall and every stroller finds a great place to park at the tables where the guest dine. FYI. Sorry to hear you weren't accomodated at the location you went to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-11801261360864385212010-08-04T20:36:20.669-07:002010-08-04T20:36:20.669-07:00Yes, advocacy is good. But sometimes the cost of ...Yes, advocacy is good. But sometimes the cost of it (emotionally for the most part) is higher than cost of walking away. Sometimes you need to walk away for your (or your child or whoever you are with) sake.<br /><br />I have worked with people with disabilities since I was in high school. For the most part, I do speak up every time. There have been a handful of situations where I haven't because of the above mentioned cost for me or someone else. Since having a child with a disability, I have worked on being more graceful with my replies. How to respectfully tell people no. It is an art I'm working on. Some situations I feel I handle better than others. I want to teach my child he can stand up for himself and still show respect and to not do so with an air of entitlement. Yes, he may need some accommodations, but no he can follow most of the rules that others go by. It is a fine fuzzy line.<br /><br />My 2 year old (25 months) is a combination of the "hidden" and "obvious" disabilities (which are of either genetic or metabolic origin, they think at this point, he still has no diagnosis). While he is the size of your average 11 month old, has the gross motor skills of about a 16 month old but verbally, socially, and cognitively he is around a 2.5 year old level. So people assume he is a 1 year old until he does or says something that make it obvious that he is not a normal 1 year old. Then come the comments, questions, and evaluations of my parenting. Non judgmental questions for the most part I welcome. He already defends himself, and I'm proud of this (not saddened, but I feel like I've empowered him). When people say he can't do something, he quickly retorts "I no baby. I small. Do self." Close friends have commented how they too get questions on his issues.<br /><br />I'm sorry this happened to you. If calling the manager and complaining would help you, I definately would say do it. Maybe the hostess would then the next time give another child and parent more respect... consider it possibly "paying it forward", maybe your education of management of the incident will then trickle down to education of the employees, who will then make a better choice next time a similar situation comes up.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01230451973630113592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-27549065890655692622010-08-04T20:05:28.059-07:002010-08-04T20:05:28.059-07:00My 8yo has both situations you stated, his disabil...My 8yo has both situations you stated, his disabilities are obvious AND not obvious on sight. Everyone can see his blue & red hearing aids from afar but don't notice his intellectual issues until speaking with him. <br /><br />We also were denied access more than once in a public area due to his large stroller (he needs it for long distances or after a seizure). Everytime we explained its use, they let us proceed.<br /><br />He just officially approved for his wheelchair (Convaid Cruisair) and will get it in about 4wks. When he rides the large stroller now, people stare like at him 'that's odd'. Now when he uses the wheelchair, I wonder what the looks will change to. I am hoping not pity. <br /><br />It is a shame that CPK did not let Bertand in. It is not too late to tell the company what happened. You can go to the website and explain what happened. You can be sure they will want to make sure it doesn't happen to you or anyone else again! I will join in the boycott also.Sangenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-42785902555201570712010-08-04T14:41:02.079-07:002010-08-04T14:41:02.079-07:00This IS shocking and disgusting. I am so disappoi...This IS shocking and disgusting. I am so disappointed to hear this. There is no excuse.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18259780683037042533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-42723456084687174712010-08-03T22:33:26.269-07:002010-08-03T22:33:26.269-07:00I also saw your comment on Love That Max, and when...I also saw your comment on Love That Max, and when I saw Gateway Mall, realized we were local... Your team of therapists happens to include many of mine, someday we'll probably meet at the metabolic clinic or Int. Pediatrics! Anyway, I don't eat there enough that my boycott is all that meaningful but I'll join you in boycotting or complaining because the CPK behavior was shameful and ridiculous, and they deserve a kick in the pants. But don't beat yourself up. I wish I had a dollar for every time my situation got the best of me and I just ran off to cry, at least I could fund some more hippotherapy or a vacation. I am never as strong as I later think I ought to have been.GingerBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09976594257345428901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-91396167782093511082010-08-03T22:25:59.644-07:002010-08-03T22:25:59.644-07:00I'm sorry - of all the stupid hassles to go th...I'm sorry - of all the stupid hassles to go through when all you want to do is have lunch and not stand there explaining for half an hour! I really doubt it's a CPK policy about not having strollers - it probably has a lot to do with the layout of that particular restaurant - they have to have so much space available between tables if they're to keep operating legally. Did you explain to the staff about Bertrand's stroller being an assistive device? (I'm assuming you did, but didn't find mention of it, so just being anal here :)). After that, he should have been treated as if he were in a wheelchair and seated wherever their accommodation for that is. I'm guessing/hoping that what happened was that whoever you talked to got confused and didn't realize the extent of Bertrand's needs or that the stroller was more than a stroller - they might not have known of the possibility of the latter. Not a great scenario, true, but it beats the alternative.Mariannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-6834528200352898822010-08-03T20:55:07.057-07:002010-08-03T20:55:07.057-07:00I just read your post on Love That Max and was dow...I just read your post on Love That Max and was downright furious! (I have a three year old who still uses a stroller, and I know what you mean about it being easy to feel like he's still a baby.) Refused service?! No, no, no. They should have seated you all immediately at the table marked Reserved for Cutest Little Punkin' Pants in Town! That's all I can think as I look at your blog - he's truly the cutest! I abhor what your family had to endure to stir it up, but I love your advocacy attitude! You tell them, sister - I'll come and stand right next to you!alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04631088355094817176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-47340628653106547242010-08-03T20:24:51.088-07:002010-08-03T20:24:51.088-07:00I am outraged on your family's behalf. But it...I am outraged on your family's behalf. But it's hard to stand up and fight in those kind of situations; I get it. This post made me realize how important it is to always advocate, no matter how hard it is.sugar magnoliahttp://sugarmagnolia70.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-41289358473810034792010-08-03T19:30:35.806-07:002010-08-03T19:30:35.806-07:00Sometimes I get blindsided by atrocious things and...Sometimes I get blindsided by atrocious things and kick myself for not reacting differently. You can still call the restaurant and speak with a manager if you want! I'll even do it for you ;)~April~https://www.blogger.com/profile/03188630097860713824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-40583389879313465892010-08-03T19:01:17.293-07:002010-08-03T19:01:17.293-07:00That's interesting, because I actually had a n...That's interesting, because I actually had a non-obvious-disability interaction at a restaurant today too (with a random stranger, not the restaurant itself). I smiled and walked away. It's so hard to know when it's worth it to expend the little energy you have to make people more aware.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377379882410723771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-85001467846639989662010-08-03T17:39:22.490-07:002010-08-03T17:39:22.490-07:00I hope you will not be too hard on yourself for no...I hope you will not be too hard on yourself for not standing up today. The restaurant was definitely wrong. A complaint to corporate seems in order. <br /><br />BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911918894908593884.post-49590036561794752232010-08-03T17:11:28.602-07:002010-08-03T17:11:28.602-07:00This is insane! I can't believe the insensiti...This is insane! I can't believe the insensitivity and ignorance. I know this can't be a company wide policy that is enforced as I ate there earlier this week at a the CPK in Orlando (before I knew about this) and there were several strollers. I WILL NOT EAT THERE AGAIN! Good for you Cristina! Love you, LizElizabeth B.noreply@blogger.com