Dorney Park Offers To Rehire Special Needs Man After Social Media Wrath
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An avalanche of social media outrage force an about-face by Dorney Park. The amusement attraction has offered to rehire a special needs man who's worked there for 12 seasons.
"I wrote down: I love Dorney. I love work. I am a very nice happy friend," Chris Emery, 29, said while holding up a hand written sign.
That is how he described himself when asked during his annual job interview. Except, this isn't what he was used to. Chris has special needs, and this was a different interview format from years past. The changes started with a group interview rather than a one-on-one, then activities that involved him and four other job applicants, none of which were special needs.
"They were trying to tell me to build a Lego train, built out of Legos," said Chris of the modified interview, "I'm too old to play with Legos!"
Chris' mom Claudia was not allowed in the interview for the first time in 12 years. "There was something about him having to read the flashcards about guest problems and how he would handle it," said Claudia Emery.
The problem with flashcards, according to Chris, "I don't know how to read flash cards."
Chris is spirited and constantly giggling. His positivity, serves to counteract the setbacks that he has had to overcome due to his developmental disability. Still, Claudia says that he was pained when the interview concluded and they were told that Chris was not what the park was looking for.
"I was just sad, mad, upset, and confused," said Chris. Immediately following the Thursday evening interview, Claudia made a simple post on Facebook about her frustration. Without putting the name of the park in her status, she then went to bed. "When he woke up this morning and I opened [the computer] up and saw the thousands of people I said, 'Chris, do you know how many people love you?!"
Overnight, the story had been shared thousands of times and even prompted a call from a top Dorney Park official who was vacationing in Tokyo. On top of the call, the Dorney Park's General Manager also took to the company Facebook, writing:
"I've known Chris for many years and when I became aware of the situation, I requested that we immediately reach out to him and his family to let them know that we would be happy to welcome Chris back for a 13th season."
It's an offer that the Emery family says they will decline. Dorney Park has long hired those with special needs, so Claudia is not asking for any kind of boycott. In fact, Chris is already excited to head to the park as a visitor this season where, as a non-employee, he can finally play games. His mom simply hopes that this new interview process can be modified to accommodate other dedicated workers in Chris' position.
On Facebook, job offers have already been rolling in for a hardworking, and very proud young man.
