Honoring Disability Pride Month: Accessibility Solutions for Restaurants

Celebrated every July, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to honor the history, experiences, and struggles of the disabled community. Marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA)—signed into law on July 26, 1990—events nationwide celebrate the pride and empowerment of people with disabilities.

According to the 2021 U.S. Census, there are 42.5 million Americans with disabilities, including sensory, cognitive, and mobility challenges. With such a large segment of the population fitting into this category, creating an inclusive environment that accommodates all physical and mental abilities has never been more critical.

Not only do guests with disabilities appreciate the attention to detail you put into ensuring a safe and enjoyable dining experience, but the law requires it. While the ADA outlines the minimum requirements for accessibility in public spaces, including restaurants, there's still more work to be done.

Creating a disability-friendly environment in restaurants is crucial to ensuring equal access and inclusivity for all customers, and Disability Pride Month is the perfect time to make it a priority.

Making Your Restaurant Disability-Friendly

1. Accessibility: Ensure that your restaurant is accessible to people with disabilities. Install ramps or lifts to provide wheelchair access to the entrance and throughout the premises. Make sure the doorways are wide enough for wheelchairs to pass through easily. Allocate parking spaces for people with disabilities.

2. Build Accessible Bathrooms: To accommodate people with physical and mental limitations, separate bathrooms provide additional privacy and space. Designate accessible restrooms that are spacious enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Install grab bars and ensure there is sufficient maneuvering space inside the restroom. Ensure the sinks, toilets, and hand dryers are at a suitable height for individuals with disabilities.

3. Clear Pathways: Ensure that there are clear pathways between tables and other areas of the restaurant. Avoid clutter or obstacles that may obstruct the movement of individuals with mobility aids.

3. Seating Arrangements: Offer seating options that cater to different needs. Provide tables at varying heights to accommodate wheelchair users and offer adjustable seating to suit individuals of different sizes, heights, and mobility requirements.

4. Menu Accessibility: Provide menus in alternative formats, such as large print or braille, for customers with visual impairments. Offer digital menus that can be accessed through smartphones or tablets for those who may require assistive technology. Technological advancements have provided individuals with disabilities with numerous new tools for mobility and communication; however, it is not feasible to accommodate everyone.

Educate your staff to do their best. And if you do institute new programs or install new technology for the disabled, be sure to educate all of your employees so they all learn together.

5. Post Signs In Braille: Braille is a system of raised dots used by persons with visual impairments. Post braille signs in areas where you think they might be helpful, such as bathrooms, pickup windows, and tables designated for people with disabilities.

6. Communication Aids: Offer hearing assistance devices for customers with hearing impairments if possible. These devices can help amplify sound or provide closed-captioning for announcements or conversations.

7. Lighting and Acoustics: Be sure that your restaurant has adequate lighting that is evenly distributed and does not create glare or shadows. Maintain a comfortable noise level by incorporating acoustic panels or sound-absorbing materials to reduce background noise.

8. Train your staff in disability awareness and communication skills. Encourage your staff to treat all customers equally, with respect and dignity, regardless of their size, age, race, sex, or possible disability. Provide resources and training materials to educate employees about various disabilities and how to best assist customers.

Train your staff to be knowledgeable about standard accommodations, etiquette, and how to provide assistance when needed. Encourage open communication between staff and customers to address any specific requirements or concerns. Your staff shouldn't be expected to know how to best accommodate a person with cognitive or visual impairments or which tables are easiest for customers in wheelchairs. Still, as an owner or manager, you should strive to learn so that you can be there to answer questions and address issues as they arise.

There is a wide variety of disabilities, and it's essential that your staff is comfortable enough to handle some issues and aware enough to ask for help when needed.

When a person with a disability visits your restaurant, instruct your staff to greet them with the same courtesy as you would any other customer. Do your best not to make them feel like they stand out. Instead, maintain awareness in case they require assistance. Some employees might be inclined to ignore disabled guests if they aren’t sure what to do or how to act. This is why staff training is critical.

9. Online Accessibility: Ensure that your restaurant's website and online ordering platforms are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Follow web accessibility guidelines to create an inclusive and user-friendly online presence.

10. Feedback Mechanisms: Establish a feedback mechanism for customers to provide input on their experiences regarding accessibility and disability friendliness. Actively listen to their suggestions and make improvements based on their feedback.

11. Be Patient: Individuals with disabilities may require additional time to adjust before they are ready to begin ordering. It’s important not to rush them so they don't perceive your actions as rude or that you’re trying to get them out quickly. In particular, individuals with mobility issues may expend a significant amount of physical energy moving from their car to their table in the restaurant. Likewise, when the guest has finished their meal, be considerate of the time it will take them to get going. Patience is key, as is well-timed assistance.

12. Offer To Help: Your staff should be prepared to offer any additional assistance required by disabled patrons, such as rearranging seating, providing extra tables or chairs, or holding doors open. Making sure that all your guests feel welcome and well taken care of is everything

Meeting ADA Requirements

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all aspects of daily life. It guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else.

For restaurants, it is essential to consider ADA regulations not only during the building process but also during the hiring process. The following guidelines will help you navigate the ADA requirements.

What is ADA Compliant?

For your establishment to be ADA compliant, it must comply with the rules and regulations established in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Below is a brief overview of the ADA Requirements for Accessibility and Employee Accommodations.

ADA Requirements for Customer Accessibility

One of the biggest challenges that business owners face when dealing with ADA regulations is removing barriers. Barriers can take many forms, and not all of them are immediately apparent to someone without a disability.

Parking

• Patrons with disabilities must be provided with parking spaces that are close to your business and offer enough space to exit their vehicles.

• For every 25 spots in the parking lot, there must be one handicap spot.

• One in every eight accessible spots must be 8 feet in width to accomodate vans.

• Parking spots must be on a level surface, with no more than a 2% slope.

Building Entrance

• Your building entrance must be flush with the ground, or must have a 36" wide ramp that is at least 60" long with a 2% slope so that customers in wheelchairs may enter.

• If the ramp is more than 6 feet long, it must also feature handrails that are 34” to 38” tall.

• If there is no way to make your main entrance accessible and you have other entrances that could be used, you must make them accessible to the public, clear the path, and clearly note where that entrance is located.

• Passenger loading zones need to be approximately 60" wide and 20’ long, and must be parallel to the building.

Important Note: If your business is not accessible, (for example, if it operates on the rooftop of a building and there is no elevator,) you can still be compliant by offering delivery to customers’ homes or cars.

Doors

• Entrances must be at least 36" wide to accommodate customers in wheelchairs.

• Handles cannot require squeezing or turning.

• Loop and lever style handles are compliant, knob and panel styles are not.

• Doors should require less than 5 pounds of pressure to push or pull.

Layout

• Aisles between tables must be at least 36" wide.

• Merchandise, condiments, flatware, and other items at self-service stations cannot be out of reach of customers in wheelchairs unless there are employees who are readily available to help.

• A space must be designated for wheelchair-bound customers to be able to turn in the facility. It must be in the shape of a T or a 5-foot circle.

• Any obstacles to paths must be detectable by being no more than 27" off the floor and 4" from the wall.

Seats, Tables, and Counters

• There must be a 36" aisle between any fixed seats.

• Spaces for wheelchairs at tables must be available by either leaving them open or adding movable chairs at ADA-compliant tables.

• 5% of the tables (or one if you have 20 tables or less) must be ADA Compliant.

• A floor area of 30" by 48" should be cleared to accommodate wheelchair seating at a table or counter.

• Tabletops and counters should be between 28” to 34” in height to be accessible in a wheelchair.

• Customers should have ample knee room under a table or counter that measures a minimum of 30" wide, 27" high, and 19" deep.

Restrooms

• There must be enough space for a wheelchair to maneuver around the toilet and the sink.

• There must be a handicapped stall with safety bars.

• There must be enough space under the sink for a wheelchair user to reach the soap and faucet.

• The handles of the soap dispenser and faucets must be easy to use.

• Braille restroom signs should be available.

ADA Compliance for Employees

The ADA was written to protect both business patrons and employees. As a business owner or hiring manager, it is extremely important to understand both aspects of the ADA. Here are some steps you can take to ensure ADA compliance with your employees.

• Equal Opportunity While Hiring

Some disabilities may be immediately visible when a potential employee comes in for an interview, but others do not present themselves right away. According to the ADA and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it is illegal to ask interviewees about any disabilities they may or may not have before presenting them with a conditional job offer.

Contingent upon that offer, the employer or hiring manager may ask about potential disabilities to determine if a reasonable accommodation needs to be made, but only if they ask the same questions of all employees with conditional job offers. They cannot revoke the job offer if the employee discloses that they have a disability, unless making accommodations would cause undue hardship to the business. It is important to clearly outline the hiring expectations and discrimination policies in your employee handbook.

• Accommodating Employees with Disabilities

If you become aware that a potential hire is disabled, you must work with him or her to find a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations enable the employer to modify the way a job is performed, allowing a disabled employee to perform the job effectively. This could potentially mean transferring the employee to a different position if that is possible.

The employer does not have to make an accommodation if it proves to be an undue hardship, which means a significant financial expense, disruption, or change to the business. For example, if you own a cafe and a potential server has a chronic knee injury that prevents them from walking for long periods, you can accommodate them by allowing them to take breaks whenever needed, even if that means hiring extra help.

You can also make reasonable accommodations by transferring an employee to a different department. If a potential cashier has a learning disability that prevents them from counting money correctly, you could consider hiring them as a host or hostess instead.

Tax Breaks for ADA Compliance

Although compliance sometimes costs money, the IRS Code states that all businesses are eligible for tax deductions when installing ADA-compliant equipment or removing barriers. The maximum deduction is $15,000 per year, and small businesses are also eligible for a tax credit that can cover up to 50% (or $ 7,500 per year) of compliance-related expenditures.

Take Away

Making your restaurant accessible and disability-friendly is an important goal. It can be achieved by making some small but important changes to your restaurant.

When dealing with customers or employees who have disabilities, patience and awareness are essential. If you train your staff to provide service slowly, offer assistance when needed, and let guests with disabilities set the pace, you’ll be taking the first steps toward creating a disability-friendly environment that makes everyone feel at home.

By Eileen Strauss