Mastering Accessibility in Your Restaurant
Did you know that in 2018 as many as 40.6 million Americans were classified as having a disability? This may come as a surprise to many people. With 12.6% of the population in this category, it’s important for us to discuss why your restaurant needs to be accessible, and things you can do to help create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Why is it important?
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This law focused on creating spaces and practices that include people with disabilities in all areas of our society. Especially in social gathering places, like restaurants. Most restaurant owners think of accessibility in terms of architecture and building codes. This includes things like wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, easy to open door handles, and handicap parking spots. Beyond that, it is important to make sure all areas of your restaurant are accessible.
The importance of this is best illustrated by a 2019 United States Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of a blind customer who was unable to order off the Domino’s app because both the app and website were unreadable through screen-reading software. This poses an important question: your physical restaurant may be accessible, but is your technology? If you use kiosks, what features do they have to assist those with disabilities? Is your website screen-reader friendly? These are all important questions to consider when thinking of ways to make your brand more accessible.
How to be more accessible
Review your technology
Start by reviewing your technology. Do your images have alternate descriptions that can be read by a screen reader? Do the colors of text and backgrounds contrast enough? Beyond that, think about your social media presence. Any textual information in a posted photo cannot be read by a screen reader. For example, if you have a graphic promoting a new special, or contest that you’re hosting, you’ll also need to add the text details in your post description to make it more accessible. Similarly, if you’re going to be posting a video, consider captioning it. After all, it’s estimated that 85% of videos on Facebook are watched without sound regardless of (dis)ability.
Review your physical space
Are your handicap accessible tables near the front of your restaurant by the door? Consider factors like how far a handicap customer will have to walk from a handicap parking spot to an accessible table. It’s also important to make sure that aisles are spacious and allow room for a wheelchair to easily navigate your floor plan. In addition to this, consider assessing your bathroom. You may have already considered and installed lever door handles instead of knobs, but what are on your sinks? Knobs can easily be replaced with lever handles for easy operation.
Add small touches
There are other smaller, but useful things you can do, like create a few special copies of your menu with large print text. Or, reach out to your local library to see if they have a braille printer, and create a braille copy of your menu so that visually impaired guests are able to read the menu. You can also add fun elements, like branded dog bowls so you can serve service dogs should you have one visit your restaurant. By adding these elements of intentionality and inclusion into your restaurant, you are building brand loyalty, not only with guests who have disabilities, but also with their families.
Sherane Chen LLC is pleased to offer conscientious social media service to restaurants, and would love to help you get started. Contact us today or call (386) 627-3628 for a consultation!