Restauranteurs are outraged by the surge in fake Persons With Disabilities (PWD) IDs used for discounts — but their response is making things worse.
In a now deleted Instagram post, restaurant group Lowbrow Casual Restaurants aired out their frustrations with fake PWD IDs being used as “permanent discount cards.” While the complaint about ID abuse by non-disabled people was valid, the post’s tone revealed a troubling hint of ableism. “3 out of 10 people who eat in our restaurants use [a PWD ID],” wrote Lowbrow. “Are 30 percent of us disabled? (Don’t answer ahaha).”
Lowbrow’s post argued that some disabilities are more “legit” than others, implying that mental disabilities are less valid because they’re invisible. “Can you tell which mental health patient deserves a discount?” Lowbrow asked, offering exaggerated examples like “Carlos feels compelled to butcher & eat his coworker” and “Ralph gets anxiety attacks around obese pugs.”
The group concluded their post by warning that the rise in PWD ID abuse could force restaurants to raise prices to make up for losses. While Lowbrow noted they wouldn’t change their policy on accepting PWD IDs, they suggested restaurant-goers could pressure “fake” PWDs to leave by “star[ing] at them while squinting” or even “call[ing] them Satan.”
“Hopefully this thing resolves itself,” wrote Lowbrow. “We are counting on you to shame them until they go away.”
Pointing Fingers
Reactions to Lowbrow’s post have been overwhelmingly negative, primarily due to its ableist commentary.
“Lowbrow’s statement was not only insensitive — it was deliberately insulting,” writes Pola del Monte, communication consultant and the person behind Miss Chief Editor on Instagram. “In particular, the slide about invisible disabilities (“Can you tell which mental health patient deserves a discount?”) diluted the severity of mental illness as a cause of disability.”
Pulling from her own experiences as a PWD with chronic depression and generalized anxiety disorder, del Monte stresses the disabling nature of mental illness. “Depression, especially when untreated, can hinder people from employment. This is why it’s disabling — and it leads to economic losses.”
Chino Cruz, founder of new Salcedo, Makati cafe Baker On East, recalls feeling “disappointed” about the post. “I think that people do not understand that this is a sensitive issue,” says Cruz. As a restaurateur and PWD card holder, Cruz recognizes both sides of the “fake” PWD ID argument. While he understands how the PWD ID abuse can financially hurt small businesses, who are the “most vulnerable in the restaurant industry,” Cruz also notes that the blame should not be placed on PWDs.
“We’re sort of losing the plot and core issue here,” says Cruz. “People just want to point fingers into the middle of the whole situation. But people are also now asking what makes someone a PWD? What makes one disability more deserving than the other? And I’m like, ‘That’s not how [this conversation] started.’ How did we get to this point?”
“Lowbrow shouldn’t have attacked those who have disabilities,” del Monte adds. “What they should have targeted instead is the system that prevents businesses from thriving, and persons with disabilities from living with dignity.”
A ‘Crippled’ Restaurant Industry
The debate over PWD IDs’ impact on the restaurant industry has gained momentum, fueled by the rise in fake PWD ID schemes and a recent statement from the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH), which claims that “fake PWD cards are crippling the restaurant industry.”
The discount, which amounts to twenty percent as per The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons , is aimed at alleviating the financial burden that comes with living with a disability. However, in their statement, Resto PH argued that fake PWD IDs erode the already slim profit margins of the industry, especially affecting small and medium businesses struggling to stay afloat.
Del Monte pushes back against the organization’s statement, pointing out that Resto PH’s rhetoric places the blame on the PWD community. “The real problem here is that the volume of PWD IDs — whether legitimate or fake — has reached a point where restaurants are now struggling to continue to provide the benefit,” writes del Monte. “The sharp rise could be a signal not only of the rampancy of fake IDs, but of cases of disability rising — which is then a healthcare concern.”
Cruz warns that the PWD ID debate can harm the most vulnerable communities. “It’s dangerous… if you’re not careful and if you’re not centering PWD voices in the conversation,” says Cruz. “It suddenly becomes ableist and discriminating against a marginalized community.”
How to Fix This
Less than 24 hours after publishing their post, Lowbrow released an apology statement. “We’ve been frustrated by our experiences with PWD IDs, so we dragged everyone into it unfairly,” wrote the restaurant chain. “We’re very embarrassed and disappointed with ourselves. That was inexcusable.”
The discourse generated by Lowbrow’s post, as well as the ongoing debate surrounding PWD IDs, highlights the need for a stronger, government-enforced policy to address the misuse of these IDs. While the policy granting PWDs a 20 percent discount at restaurants is a step in the right direction, it’s clear that the current system is flawed and vulnerable to exploitation. “There needs to be stricter implementation, standardization,” says Cruz. “We don’t want small businesses, the most vulnerable in the restaurant industry, to collapse because of one flawed policy.”
At the same time, restaurant owners need to engage in more thoughtful and inclusive discussions about disability access and rights. “It would be best if [restauranteurs] can provide figures that show how deep the problem has become,” writes del Monte. “‘10 years ago, we provided X discounts to persons with disabilities. Last year, this number has risen to Y.’ The numbers will allow everyone to understand the extent of the problem.”
Del Monte also suggests restaurant owners looking into a communication consultant to double-check official statements for any ableist language.
“In the end, restaurants and persons with disabilities shouldn’t be fighting,” writes del Monte. “It’s the government that should provide better social services, better legislation, and better ways of doing business.”
