This Man With Down Syndrome Worked For A Fast Food Chain For 2 Decades And Then His Sister Says They Fired Him Because He Couldn’t Complete The Same Tasks As A “Normal Person”
In the past 20 years or so, there has been a huge push for the acceptance of special needs employees. I’m not just talking about people with anxiety or people with learning disabilities. Though ableism is a thing, there are many people that push for the acceptance of everyone in the workforce.
Even with this advancement, there are those that try their hardest to make the workplace an unwelcome place for those people with challenges.
Cona Young Turner has a close relationship with her brother Dennis. Dennis has Down syndrome, but he doesn’t let that stop him from loving everyone and everything around him.
“My brother Dennis has worked at Wendy’s in Stanley for over 20 years, and I am heartbroken to say they have fired him!!!!!!!!!” Cona said in a Facebook post.
For anyone, 20 years is a long time for one job. And for them to fire him, Dennis must be so confused why he can’t go to work anymore.
“His dream was to retire from there someday, and he was looking forward to a huge retirement party; we may just give him that party and tell him he has retired because he does not understand being fired,” she explained.
“They told me he was unable to perform the duties of a normal person’s job!!!! I am also looking into a wrongful termination of a special needs employee; wish me luck! I am very disappointed with the management at Wendy’s in Stanley, they have no idea how they hurt my brother!”
My main question after reading this post is, what would they consider a normal employee? Every single person in the world is different, and there is no way to quantify what makes a normal person.
Facebook; pictured above is Dennis
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Just because Dennis has an extra chromosome doesn’t mean that he should be discriminated against. And how does someone that has been working at the same place for 20 years all of a sudden get given a task that makes them unqualified? What could that task have possibly been?
People have commented their support and their grievances with the company’s actions and are fully in support of whatever Dennis and his family decide to do. Many have even asked for an address so they can send retirement gifts and cards to Dennis.
Cona shared a couple of updates along with an address in case you would like to write a card for Dennis.
“Update, They offered Dennis his job back starting next week,” Cona wrote. “My heart is overwhelmed by the support that you all have given my brother and myself! Thank you all so much.”
“Update 2: I have had several requests to send Dennis cards and letters (shared address). Update 3: Dennis will not be returning to Wendy’s. He will be having his BIG RETIREMENT party that he has been wanting. Wendy’s has offered to help with expenses and anything else they can for his special day. I feel in my heart, at this point, I should do what is best for my brother.”
Cona’s local community really came together to show their support for Dennis too. After the Mount Holly Police Department learned about what happened to Dennis, they made him an honorary member of the force.
Additionally, students from the Catawba Heights Elementary School and Mount Holly Middle School created cards to wish Dennis the best of luck in his retirement.
The overwhelming support for Dennis is amazing, and hopefully, he can enjoy his retirement with his family and friends.
If you would like to send Dennis a letter, here is the address that Cona shared:
You can see Cona’s original post on Facebook here.
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