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Dozens show support after deaf woman is refused service at Dunkin' Donuts

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — A deaf woman who was outraged by the way a Dunkin' Donuts employee treated her is getting support from her community.

Jessica Sanzillo said she's a frequent customer at a Framingham, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts and uses a texting app to order through the drive-through. She said she writes her order and what her kids want on her phone, and then will drive up the window and show them her order.

But when she drove up earlier this month, she said she was refused service because she didn't use the speaker and would not be served her coffee unless she came inside.

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"There were three other workers there that know me, that see me every day. When the server refused to serve me my drink, none of the three people came over and told him that it wasn't OK, that she's a routine customer, she's deaf. They didn't say anything. They just stood back and watched," she told WFXT.

On Sunday, Sanzillo and several others went through that drive-through and ordered like a deaf person would. They hope this sends a message to others.

"To see, to get them the experience of people that work at Dunkin' Donuts. To know what it's like for when a deaf person is going to come through the drive-through and how to approach that better in the future," Sanzillo told WFXT through an interpreter Friday.

Hearing people and others who have deaf family members came out to the rally, as well.

"As a parent of a deaf child, I would never want William to be excluded from anything, and so thinking of him wanting to get a cup of coffee later in life and being told he couldn't go through the drive-through like everybody else really upset me," one parent said.

Dunkin' Donuts apologized for the initial incident and said the employee involved has been fired. Read the company's statement below:

"At Dunkin' Donuts, providing a friendly and welcoming restaurant environment for all of our guests is a top priority. We are aware of the guest complaint regarding the franchised Dunkin' Donuts restaurant at 334 Waverly St. in Framingham. We have been informed that upon learning of the customer complaint, the restaurant's franchisee who owns and operates this restaurant spoke with the guest to apologize for the experience and to try to resolve the matter. Additionally, the franchisee informs us he has terminated the crew member involved in the incident. Franchisees are required by their franchise agreement to comply with all applicable laws."