Restaurant Is Heartbroken After Father Asks 'Permission' To Bring Disabled Son Inside
Jul 03, 2018 by apost team
Having a child with a disability is never easy. In fact, it has to be one of the greatest challenges parents can face. From the worry to the providing of care to the dealings with insurance, being a parent of a child with a disability is nonstop and stressful.
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However, in those struggles and those moments of worry, parents often find the greatest blessings. These children so often find an ability to rise above their challenges and help their parents see the joy so often hidden in life. These children often inspire us adults through their unwavering strength.
Sadly, however, not everyone is able to see the beauty sometimes hidden behind the disability.
It is, indeed, hard at times to remain patient with those who are unlike ourselves. However, too many of us fail to show empathy to disabled children and their parents, often making comments or staring with contempt. Sadly, one family had to experience this kind of reaction so frequently that they had to adjust how they managed their trips out to eat.
They decided to start seeking permission from the restaurants first.
At The Barrel Chapletown, the father simply went inside to inquire whether his son would be allowed to dine. He wanted to make sure the staff would be willing to deal with any negative reactions people might have from his son's loud outbursts and hand gestures. Not being the typical question asked of them, the staff was quite taken aback. Never had they expected to be asked permission from a customer to dine in.
Consequently, without hesitation, they told the dad to come in with his family. They wanted him to know he was more than welcome. However, the restaurant's staff did not forget about this family when the dinner shift ended.
Later that night, the owner, Steph Tate, made a Facebook post about it, letting everyone reading know that the doors were always open to anyone with a disability. The interaction had apparently plagued Tate all night, as the Facebook post expressed how Tate had been imagining what could have happened in the past to make this father seek permission. He empathized deeply with how this father must have felt.
This man's request made Tate wonder how many others out there might be in similar situations, wondering if they'd be welcomed. Tate had to let others know that they, too, would always have a place to dine peacefully. This is why Tate's post told all those at home with a disability or with someone close to them with a disability that they always had a place to go to get out of the house and enjoy a meal. In fact, Tate decided then that if there were ever any incidents where someone was disparaging or acting disrespectfully toward a disabled person or child that the one making comments would be asked to remove themselves from the restaurant, not the one with the disability.
Not everyone is alike. Not all of us are what is considered "normal." This is why it is so important to see a restaurant like this open its doors to all. We all should take a page out of Tate's book and learn to love all of those around us better.