quote:
Ok Facebook friends, I need your help making this message go viral. A local Slidell business that has new out of town owners has decided to shut their doors to special needs children in Slidell schools.

Bowling USA has been hosting Special Olympics bowling for many years for Junior High and High School special education students. Today is the last time as they have said they will no longer host the event.

After the new owners took over, they began making changes to the program like no longer giving discounts to the students for the event. Then, this year, they decided to not even allow the students to buy food from the cafe (which they then changed at the last minute and offered a very limited menu at full price.)

This field trip is literally the only one that my son, Seth, has enjoyed going on. Now, with only one bowling alley in Slidell, he can no longer attend this annual event.

If we as a community are going to hold other local business owners to task for their behavior outside of their business, how much more should we hold this local business accountable for the blatant discrimination against children with disabilities.

It is time to hear from the owners of Bowling USA so that they can explain themselves.

Thank you for helping me make Slidell more accessible to all.of our citizens, regardless of their ability.

Owners responded on one of many 1* reviews since the above status got shared like wildfire, stating:

quote:
Quite often when someone is disgruntled about a situation they tell someone then that person tells someone else and before you know it, you have rumors going around that are not true. This often happens at the bowling centers and I have heard some really wild rumors which just are not true. I have a toll free number posted at both bowling centers that anyone can call me at any time with any complaints that they have. If I can fix a situation then I do.

I was forwarded a post by Scott Ward and I am responding to the post. I have not met Scott Ward, therefore, this isn't anything personal. This apparently is one of those situations where someone is unhappy about something and by the time it got around to others, whatever the original complaint was somehow got distorted and now rumors are flying that have no truth to them.

Everyone has the freedom of speech and when you are not happy with a business then you have the right to post regarding that business and the business owner. However, when postings are made they should state the truth or the poster does a disservice to everyone by posting false information. Scott's message can go viral but I would like it to go viral with the truth. Here is the truth from the CEO/President of the company, Kathy Schneider, and the number I can be reached at is 1-855-800-9004 FREE. Your call will be returned. By the way, whatever the situation is that started these postings, I have no idea what the problem is because no one has called me to discuss anything or to check out any rumors they have heard.

I have had the business for 3 years now and each year we host the Special Olympic groups at both bowling centers. The first false statement is "owners has decided to shut their doors to special needs children in Slidell schools". We have not decided that nor have there been any discussion to do so. If the Special Olympics or any other group want to bowl at the bowling center, we will make arrangements for them to do so. So when Scott states "Today is the last time as they have said they will no longer host the event". I honestly don't know who told him that because I am the one that makes those decisions. I did not talk with any one today or any other day about no longer hosting the event.

Then Scott states "they began making changes to the program like no longer giving discounts to the students for the event. Then, this year, they decided to not even allow the students to buy food from the café (which they then changed at the last minute and offered a very limited menu at full price). There are a lot of misstatements here. Let me take them one by one. The students are given discounts, less than what the league bowlers pay, who are our regular customers. Each year there is a special menu for the Special Olympic group as part of their Grand Finale day when they give out the awards. We had the same special menu this year as we had in the past. The menu was given out in advance to Ashley with Special Olympics so that it could be passed out to the teachers so that the children would know how much money to bring. It was never decided that the children could not buy food from the snack bar. The children love eating at the bowling centers and we do have a special limited menu for the group. The group is given a special limited menu because we could not serve over 125 children if everything on our menu was available to them. We select things we can prepare in advance or doesn't require much cooking so that all the children can be served promptly. We do charge full price because we would have to change the prices of the food just for this group and then change them back again after they leave. The menu was not a last minute decision and there was never the consideration not to serve the children.

I am delighted that Scott's son Seth enjoys the bowling trip. All of the students look forward to this and the employees look forward to it also because we love watching the children have so much fun. If the local school APE and Special Olympics want to have another event next year, then the bowling centers welcome them. Our senior league group generally accommodates the children by starting later so that the children can have their event. I applaud our seniors for accommodating the students. Therefore, if the school APE and Special Olympics make arrangements for next year, then Seth will be able to attend the event next year.

I find the false accusation of "blatant discrimination against children with disabilities" inflammatory especially when based on apparent rumors and untruths. Scott wanted to hear from the owner of Bowling USA and to explain myself. He has heard from me and I don't have anything to explain except what the truth actually is. The reality is nothing like the rumors as is generally the case with rumors. Call 1-855-800-9004 FREE to check out the truth when you hear rumors.

Kathy Schneider
CEO/President Leisure Recreation and Entertainment, Inc.
1-855-800-9004

What say the OT before local media picks it up?

TL;DR - Guy says that bowling alley cancelled a special needs event. Bowling alley says not true. Guy whips up a public facebook post citing the seafood restaurant 'controversy', its now getting shared and copypasta to give 1* reviews on their page.

This post was edited on 1/23/16 at 5:29 pm