Any business that seeks to improve how accessible it is to customers, staff, and guests is absolutely moving in the right direction. It shows that not only are you trying to be more open and understanding of the community that supports you, but of course, opening yourself to a wider part of your market can only be wise.
With that in mind, learning to develop confidence and competence in this field, and training your staff to acclimate to those requirements, can be helpful. For example, we all know that accessibility might include a disability ramp for those in wheelchairs or with mobility needs to overcome inclines or declines. However, are your staff trained in how to help should there be an evacuation, such as how to open the double doors more widely, or help a wheelchair down stairs?
Of course, accessibility isn’t always about disabled needs either, though these are highly important. Training your staff in first aid, for instance, increases the likelihood that someone’s life could be saved in an emergency. We’re willing to bet that person would find such an act to be a good accessibility measure.
With that in mind, you may wish to consider some of the following advice:
Accessible Menus
Paper menus aren’t always the best solution for everyone, but large print versions can help those with visual impairments and are worth having. In addition, QR code options let your guests use their own phones to zoom in or use screen readers. Having your menu available in multiple formats shows you’ve thought about different needs, even language options can help in multi-ethnic communities.
Of course, you’re a restaurant, so adding clear allergy information is essential too, as it helps people make quick decisions without having to quiz your staff. Braille menus might seem like a big step, but they’re becoming more common and make a real difference to visually impaired customers, and aren’t a bad investment.
To Go/Takeout Collection & Delivery Options
Even if your restaurant is wonderful, and we’re sure it is, some people find eating out challenging. It could be due to mobility issues, anxiety, or other personal reasons. That’s why a well-organized takeout system gives them access to your food without the pressure of dining in or sitting, which for them could feel like a long time. Implementing clear signage for collection points can help, no matter if they’re picking it up or a food service driver is. We’d recommend having a dedicated parking spot near your entrance for takeout customers who might struggle with longer walks too, as every little helps here. Having restaurant to go labels will also provide clearer signage. Just make sure your delivery partners understand any special instructions customers might need to include.
Disabled Toilet Installations
Disability-friendly toilets can be great, and offer dignity to those with mobility needs. But accessible toilets need more than just extra space and grab rails, so think about emergency pull cords that actually work and aren’t tied up, proper lighting that helps people see clearly, and bins within easy reach. The route to these facilities matters as well, so make sure there aren’t random storage items or furniture blocking the way, and if you can do without that table if it means a wheelchair can access it, that’s a good compromise. Then, train your staff to keep these paths clear throughout their shifts. Your disabled guest will be able to immediatley identify your efforts, and will no doubt appreciate them.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily improve the accessibility of your business from the top down.
