Special Needs Child Told To Leave Outback Steakhouse Over Noise

GLEN BURNIE, MD — Four-year-old Killian is an energetic and affectionate little boy. He also has a neurological disorder affecting his speech, which affects the way he talks and his behavior. Many people think nothing of the way Killian conducts himself, until recently. Mom Amanda Braun was crushed when her family was forced to leave the Outback Steakhouse in Glen Burnie because another customer was unhappy with Killian's behavior.

Braun knows her son can be a bit loud because of his neurological disorder. The family had sat down at their table, sipping on their drinks and taking the time to peruse the menu. They ordered dinner and waited for their food to arrive. But it wasn't until their food was served and they began to dig in that the manager approached the family and told them they needed to leave.

"A man approached our table about five minutes after our food was brought out and introduced himself as the manager. He asked us how our meals were but he didn’t stop there. This gentleman said that he received a noise complaint for my child. He said that he was very uncomfortable coming to our table to tell us that ,but unfortunately we needed to finish our meals and leave. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was in total shock," Braun wrote on Facebook.

The manager was apologetic, Braun said, and offered the family a $20 credit at the restaurant to use at a later time. But Braun said she has no intention of returning there ever again.

"Why would I subject my son and the rest of my family to that type of discrimination? What would ever make me want to return? Would we be asked to leave again if my son were to be loud? This is not OK and I’m not stopping here. I will be in contact with corporate. ... Outback labels itself as a family friendly restaurant just not 'families with special needs' restaurant."

Braun told WJLA that she has never had any other issues with someone complaining about Killian's behavior before.

"Our son stayed with us in our booth. There weren’t many people around us as we were seated in the very back of the restaurant to accommodate our party size," she said.

The entire group may have been a bit louder than other customers, not just Killian.

"The anger has subsided and I'm left with sadness for my son and his future struggles of being in public" Braun said.

WJLA obtained a statement from Outback Steakhouse apologizing for the incident.

"We strive to make sure all guests feel comfortable and welcomed in our restaurants and we fell short. We’re learning from what happened and training our team so we can better serve our diverse guest population," the statement read.

Facebook user Sarah Baker Humphrey was aghast at what had happened to Braun and her family.

"I’m so sorry for your mistreatment. The fact that someone actually complained about 'the noise' is what bothers me most. The adults that complained need to be taught to accept differently-abled people with different expectations and grace. To embrace the beauty in our differences as human beings. The manager who said he 'felt bad' should be enabled by his corporate company on how to engage unnecessary complaints and address the real problem of insensitivity," Humphrey wrote on Braun's Facebook post.