What do restraunts, hotels, and retail stores need to help handicap/disabled people today?

Question

What do restraunts, hotels, and retail stores need to help handicap/disabled people today?

Answer 1

To give people with disabilities equal access.

It is the right thing to do.

People with disabilities are paying customers.

They need empathy, removal of physical barriers (steps, small doors, fixed chairs at tables), braille menus-braile on directories, elevators, picture menus, notepads to communicate with the deaf-shopping assistance to people that can't raech/lift items), patience toward someone that may communicate clower-

accessible bathrooms-roll in showers/grab bars, turning radius for wheelchairs-shower stools

benches for short stature people to stand on

wide check out aisles

benches for people to sit and rest while shopping

Answer 2

As retailers, they need to know that people with disabilities are people too. Staff should not ignore them, overlook them or be too afraid to approach them.

All to often staff will address the standing person and ignore the person in the wheelchair as if they were not there - eg. "What would he/she like?"

Sinks should be higher in hotel rooms so wheelchairs can fit under them.

Doors should be wider to accomodate wheelchairs and walkers.

Bigger aisles in stores. Most stores have a width of one or two people accommodation and not enough for a wheelchair and a person to walk down or pass each other.

Countertops should be lower (especially at the cash area.)

These businesses could offer their help/support to ensure that the person in the wheelchair feels they are accommodated. For example, have a sales staff (in retail) approach the person in a chair and just say, "if you need any help, I'll be over there." so that the person doesn't think they can't get to see the clothes at the top shelves or racks.

Most of all, staff need to be open-minded with who they are dealing with and not feel uncomfortable around disbilities.

Answer 3

Wheel chair access to venue and toilets, such as wider doors, have ramps or lifts installed if needed, these few things can make it easier for those using mobility aids, e.g wheel chair, walking sticks etc to access building. If possible no steps, as steps poses major problems for many people

Shelves or tables are spaced evenly, which is wide enough for wheel chair access. Also ensure the shelves are not to high or over stacked.

Treat anyone with respect and dignity at all times.