Sensitivity training ahead at restaurants

JACKSON, Miss. — The management company of 270 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell franchises nationwide has agreed to provide sensitivity training at those outlets following a May incident at a KFC in Mississippi in which a deaf woman felt she was being mocked.

Disability Rights Mississippi, a nonprofit advocating for people with disabilities, said it reached an agreement on behalf of Bobbie Cole, of Byram, Miss., with Canada-based Franchise Management Inc., or FMI, The Clarion Ledger reported. FMI operates the fastfood franchises.

Cole, who is deaf but can read lips, said she was made fun of by KFC employees while trying to order food May 30 at a Jackson area drive-thru.

FMI spokesman Tyler Langdon said FMI has reviewed the restaurant's surveillance video of the incident involving Cole and that it appeared there was a misunderstanding about what had happened. He didn't provide further details but noted that the employees at the drive-thru were minors.