Fear of Crime Restricts Deaf Ability to Order at McDonalds
Do you think that is a legitimate reason for refusing a deaf person service at the window? At the risk of sounding audist, I have to say it is a legitimate reason, in my opinion. People are very free with guns today and in fact there was a shooting today not far from where I work.
The only solution is technology like OrderAssist that will allow deaf people to place an order without having to talk. The OrderAssist website shows the window being opened to hand the deaf person a menu. In the McDonald's case, it sounds like the window can not be opened at all? (It is unclear from the forum post if this is the case) Can food be passed to someone through an external slide tube like when you go to the bank's drive-in, removing the risk for the late night food clerks?
Comments
How can some people be that DUMB!!! No difference!
Hearing person drive up and places order at the unit taking orders then drives up to the window to pay and/or take the food. Either one or both windows (cashier and/or food pick-up) open then the driver shoots! BANG! DEAD! Life goes on. You take risks.
Anonymous from number 1.
If you are deaf and some of deaf with a very serious Disabitiy and They should provided a deaf black or any kind of race skin. It should not discrmination. you forgot about some deaf people with other disabities, kind of hard for people to not able to walk in the MC Donald. Why they refused because of possible the deaf drive is black. It should not discriminated the deaf driver so they refuse to serve. File complaint against the Mc Donald are disrespected of any kind of deaf with a disabitiy without serve for the meal who passed the drive through. Compare what is the differennce of with Shaken’ Shake in Chiagco.
What if you bring deaf and blind person in passenger. Will you ordering for deaf and blind person is next to you?
It is not make sense! It is DISCRMINATION! period.
I cannot understand someone would not serve if the door is locked in midnight if so. the person have to use drive through. Mistreated him for unfair and the deaf driver innocent and feel trapped that he could not communicate with voice problem as deaf accent he would not want to use his voice, Thefore, he should sue the Mc Donald’s.
Deaf Pixie
McDonalds in Costa Mesa, California had the technology that enabled deaf people to order food using a small keypad at the menu. Sad too few people used it and they discontinued it.
We got it there, seemingly nobody used it.
Perhaps we have to tattoo “I’m deaf” into our foreheads to get service in the drive thru.
More likely, it’s just ignorance of the law or misunderstanding the spirit of access for deaf and disability groups.
Rather than getting combative about it, the restaurant manager should be contacted, copies sent to the corporate office, and the local advocacy group asked to be involved in education of these ignorant people.
Publicity is a good thing, but it can get worn out in short time if resorted to too often.
Pretty nifty device! Ironies of all ironies, not available in Rochester, NY.
The real solution is not to patronize any “prejudiced” fast-food establishment(s) and get the lawyer to sue their rear behinds.
Don’t get too wimpy about trying to be nice. F**k with ‘em!
RLM
Hmm… i dont give a xxxx about the fact he couldn’t open the window. what i wonder is, couldn’t he just read the note through the window? like, deaf brother could just hold the note on the window?
if he still wont read it; i hope someone leaves a flamin bag of poo at the drive in.
They probably don’t have a problem opening the window for a $20 bill……
I won’t be suprised to see Rachel make a blog saying that this won’t happen to her because she can hear and tolk.
Absolutely ridiculous. As stated before – if somebody is determined to rob them, this won’t stop it! Hopefully they will educate their workers and come up with a solution that benefits everybody. Deaf people get hungry too!
ummm…why couldn’t the deaf person write a note to say he’s deaf and then hold it up to the glass? maybe even include his order??
J.J. – Life is priceless and $20 isn’t but you were probably referring to this on the SSI/SSDI scale.
KDEVI – Any one (deaf or hearing) can write a note saying he’s deaf and once the window opens the customer SHOOTS! BANG! BANG! and BANG!
For a change–will many of you stop being naive!
Chuckling,
My point was that McDonald’s still needs to collect $$$ for every transaction anyway. Therefore, anyone could hold out a $5 bill..then BANG BANG….
Additionally, who spends more than $20 at McDonald’s anyway? Their most expensive meal is like 8 bucks….
It is a problem; especially for those who are physically disabled and cannot go inside. It doesn’t matter what time it is. Why can’t these places put out a board which displays the foods,….with buttons. Optimally it would display the cost of the order. You punch in your order, Viola’.
Next time you go to McDonalds look at the MENU BOARD or the speaker where you place your order through. Because here in the state of Alabama I’ve noticed that most say “if you are deaf or hard of hearing PLEASE PULL TO THE WINDOW, ASK FOR A MENU SO YOU CAN PLACE YOUR ORDER”. In other words they will take your order at the window! They should rethink that posting if they are not willing to accommodate, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF NIGHT IT IS.
I’M ALSO DEAF, BUT CAN SPEAK JUST FINE. I READ THE MENU, MAKE UP MY MIND AND THE FIRST THING THAT I DO B/4 ORDERING IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I’M DEAF. AFTER GIVING THE ORDER, USUALLY TWICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT IT CORRECTLY, I ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT A NOTE SHOWING THE PRICE SHOULD BE WRITTEN FOR ME TO READ WHEN I PROCEED TO THE PAY WINDOW. THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME FOR YEARS – AT MOST DRIVE-THROUGHS. HERE’S A FUNNY THING – I CAN HEAR A LITTLE BIT AND SO I CAN TELL THAT ALTHOUGH I’VE JUST TOLD THEM THAT I’M DEAF, THERE WILL BE WORDS SPOKEN BACK TO ME, BUT OF COURSE I HV NO IDEA WHAT THEY’RE SAYING. THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME LAUGH. IT’S AS IF THEY ARE THE DEAF ONES!!! I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH ORDERING AT MCDONALD’S. I NEVER EAT THERE.
Couldn’t deaf person hold note up to window without window being opened? Sadly, people working late nights are concered about robberies. I worked at Denny’s late nights and we were extra cautious there – in a well-lighted place with more people than a drive-through place.
sorry, you just can’t always get what you want – and Deaf need to be sensitive to others also! Considerateness and sensitivity work both ways, you know!
This incident by the way is too insignificant to deserve litigation – or resentment! While inconvenient for the Deaf person, I think it’s understandable.
Loved the captions on the http://deafdrivethru.com/ video featuring the OrderAssist. I had never seen closed captions with clear background.
Same person as above…
I forgot to say that I usually have trouble at the drive-in, so I avoid it
I am an ASL interpreter who has many Deaf friends. I think that the discrimination Deaf people face along with how they are treated at the drive-thrus is rediculous. Come on people!! If someone is going to shoot you, they can do it just as well through the glass window so stop making excuses that you are afraid of being robbed…puuulease!!!
Hearing people can “pretend” to order their meal, then drive up to the window and hold a gun to your face and rob you, so that claim is just idiotic BS!
That person was just discriminating against the Deaf person…reality check people…the plain and simple truth be must be told…the person at the window is just an IGNORANT LAZY minimum wage earner who was NOT willing to serve someone Deaf because of their own PREJUDICE…no other reason than a “hearie” having a position of POWER over someone Deaf and being able to give this Deaf person a hard time and refuse service because they think the Deaf person is beneath them…it all boils down to IGNORANCE and PREJUDICE…
As a Citizen of this country with the legal right to own a gun I resent your Liberal comment about Guns.
Law abiding citizens obey the law and get background checks and fingerprints and etc etc etc so your fear is groundless. If you have a problem have your cops clean up the neighborhood. Criminals will always find ways to break the law so keep your snide comments to yourself and stop spreading fear.
Now for the deaf person He/ She could have wrote that they were deaf and Held the order up to the window and have the person read it if he/ she refused then they have grounds for a lawsuit .
To have proof most Fast food places are under constant video survilence so all they would have to do is get a copy of the tape for their lawyer.
Otherwise they should just refuse to shop there and go somewhere else after writing a letter to the managment.
The story was worth reading but please keep your liberal views to yourself.
If I were in the person’s shoes trying to order food late at night and was refused service. I would have sat there and prolonged cars waiting behind me. I would hope the manager called the police, then the manager would feel safe about taking my order, and the policeman probably would have given the manager a disgusted look.
What it means to be deaf or hard of hearing is to be delayed one way or another in public. Whether its repeating ourselves or complaining to management, another event, another wasted 20 minutes. The law, another wasted 20 minutes. Wait for police, another wasted hour. Just forget it, be rude, go to Burger King instead , for a buck your get a whopper junior with a real tomato. My dog can eat five of them.
I agree that the person was just lazy. I worked at a drive-thru where we had a deaf customer. She always came to the window with a note and I always placed her order then gave her the total on piece of paper. I even went as far as learning the signs to give her the total. My bf is hard of hearing so I had no issue learning. Crime may be an issue but as stated before, they have to open the window at one point anyways. Maybe try handing the note with the money. The person working should no longer have a job.