Woman with cerebral palsy was denied manicure because 'she moved too much' — then Walmart cashier stepped in
People with special needs or any other condition that limits their mobility often find it difficult to find all-inclusive stores and shops. Sometimes the locations they visit are not wheelchair accessible or the stores' employees might not be kind and cooperative enough towards the disabled. According to PEOPLE, a woman named Angela Peters went to get her nails done at a nail salon. However, the salon staff found it difficult to deal with Peters and her hands that constantly shook due to cerebral palsy.
For that reason, wheelchair-bound Peters was allegedly turned away by the salon when she went to get a manicure. The incident took place in Burton, Michigan where a Walmart cashier named Ebony Harris witnessed the whole scene unfold with Peters. According to TODAY, Harris came forward to help out Peters. Harris was familiar with Peters because she had helped Peters over the past year when she visited Walmart. A Subway worker named Tasia Smith saw what Harris did when Peters was turned away from the Da-Vi Nails shop. A few moments from their wholesome encounter were shared by CBS Miami.
“They denied her service because ‘she moved too much,’” Smith wrote of salon workers and Peters in a now-deleted Facebook post, per the outlet. “Out of the kindness of the Walmart worker's hearts, they went and bought nail polish and came into my work to paint this sweet girl's nails.” Smith also mentioned when Harris took over the duty of painting Peters' nails, she was patient and Peters barely moved her hand. Smith criticized the salon employees for treating Peters the way they did. In a statement released by Walmart officials, Harris was praised for stepping in to help Peters.
“Ebony simply wanted to make sure our customer’s day was special, and that’s the kind of person she is — someone with a wonderful attitude who goes the extra mile each day to make those around her feel important,” the statement read, per the new outlet. “We’re not surprised at her act of kindness. Her service to customers defines the spirit of Walmart and we couldn’t be more proud of her.” On the other hand, Harris admitted that she would have painted Peters' nails even if she didn't know the woman. “My heart is full of compassion for anybody and everybody. I would have still painted her nails even if I had never met her before,” she told TODAY Style. “I stepped in because I didn’t want her feelings to be hurt and her day to be ruined.”
According to ABC News, Peters and Harris settled in the Subway seating area inside the Walmart as Harris painted Peters' nails in a glittery shade of blue. However, Peters did not harbor any negative feelings for the nail salon employees who turned her away and penned down a Facebook post after the incident. "I forgive the nail people for not doing my nails and Walmart has never treated me wrong. Don't think badly of Walmart and when people do us wrong, we must forgive," Peters wrote in her post. She added, "I don't want anyone fired. I just educate people that people with different challenges, like being in a wheelchair, can have their own business and get their nails done like anyone else."