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WEBVTT REPORTER: PREPPING FOR THE LUNCH RUSH, AMANDA CARTAGINE SAYS PIZZA INN RUNS LIKE YOUR TYPICAL RESTAURANT, THOUGH THE STAFF MAY LOOK DIFFERENT. >> SOME OF US HAVE DIFFERENT COLOR HAIR, SOME OF US HAVE TATTOOS, SOME OF US HAVE DIFFERENT WALKS OR PERSONALITIES , BUT AS A UNIT, WE ARE FAMILY. REPORTER: AND AS THE MATRIARCH, SHE GETS A LITTLE PROTECTIVE. ON SUNDAY, CARTAGINE SAYS A CUSTOMER ASKED AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS AUTISM, TO REFILL THE LETTUCE BOWL. >> MY MANAGER EXPLAINED TO HIM THE SITUATION PRIVATELY. LOOK IT’S JUST THE STAFF MEMBER, THAT’S NOT HIS JOB. WE’VE TRAINED HIM TO DO THIS AND THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. REPORTER: SHE SAYS THE CUSTOMER GOT UPSET AND SUGGESTED THEY PUT A SIGN ON THE DOOR. >> THESE ARE LIKE MY KIDS AND IT MADE ME ANGRY, BUT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT RUDE, BUT GOT MY POINT ACROSS. REPORTER: SO SHE DID EXACTLY WHAT THE CUSTOMER ASKED, AND PUT A SIGN UP. IT READS "WE ARE PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOPYER AND HIRE ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN." >> IN TODAY’S TIME WHERE WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE DAY TO DAY LIFE AND THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL, THEY MAKE YOU STEP BACK AND SLOW DOWN. REPORTER: ANGIE MOSELY’S SON RYAN STARTED WORKING AT PIZZA INN THIS SUMMER. >> HE LOVED THE FACT HE HAS MONEY IN THE BANK AND CAN BY HIS FAVORITE VIDEO GAMES. REPORTER: SHE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BE MORE OPEN MINDED. >> PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EDUCABLE AND EMPLOYABLE AND IT JUST REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT OF OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING AND PATIENCE. REPORTER: BRENNAN MCDAVI

Advertisement We 'hire all of God's children': Restaurant posts sign after complaint about special needs employees Pizza Inn owner in Greenville says 63 percent of her kitchen staff have special needs Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The owner of a Greenville Pizza Inn has posted a sign on the front door of the restaurant about her hiring practices after a customer complained about an employee with autism. Amanda Cartagine says 63 percent of the kitchen staff at her restaurant on Woodruff Road have special needs and she goes above and beyond to make them feel apart of the team, regardless of their limitations."If you have the patience to let them take their time and learn at their pace, when the light bulb comes on, they are unstoppable," she said.Cartagine says they always come to work with a smile and have incredible work ethic, whether washing dishes or serving pizza.On Sunday though, a customer complained about the service. Cartagine says the gentleman asked an employee who has autism to refill the lettuce bowl. "My manager explained to him the situation privately, 'That's not his job. We've trained him to do this and there are special circumstances,' and the customer was still not happy."Cartagine says the man suggested that they put a sign on the door to make customers aware. "These are like my kids, and it made me angry. I wanted to do something that was not rude, but got my point across," she said.Cartagine decided to put a sign up that reads, "We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and hire all of God's children." "If he is not OK with that, then I'm OK with him not coming back," said Cartagine. "That's a dollar that I don't need."Angie Mosley's son, Ryan, has Down syndrome. He started working at Pizza Inn this summer."He loved the first paycheck," said Mosley. "He loved the fact that he has money in the bank and he can actually go buy his favorite video game."She was disappointed to learn that someone complained, because few businesses take the time to train people with special needs."We parents with special needs (children) are always faced with breaking down barriers, stigmas, teaching other people that our children are more like them, than different," said Mosley.She hopes the sign encourages people to be more open-minded.