How the COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbated Issues Faced by the Disability Community
On the way to my internship this morning in Washington DC, I passed by no less than twenty restaurants with sprawling amounts of outdoor seating. These areas had been either designed or significantly expanded over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, where local and city-wide policies made outdoor seating the most profitable, safe -- and in some instances, the only- way for restaurants to continue to serve their customers.
Washington DC isn’t alone in this trend of outdoor dining options. In the past year and a half, other major cities in the United States and abroad launched city-wide efforts to reel in any business they could during the worst days of the pandemic.
The quaint tables and chairs encroached onto the usable sidewalk space and in some instances even took over streets that were considerably less busy due to the majority of people working remotely.
Many people, I included, appreciated the movement for more outdoor options. There’s something picturesque about squeezing your way through bustling cafes and tables on the way to your destination. Something particularly lively about hearing the music and bits of conversation alongside the delicious wafts of food.
However, members of the disability community have an entirely different outlook. For many who rely on assistive devices such as walkers, electric, or manual wheelchairs, the new cluttered sidewalk space decreases their independence and dignity. No longer can they wheel their way through a city by themselves, instead they must rely on the good will of strangers to push tables or chairs aside or help navigate the chair around the dining area entirely.
In the fervor to continue business and cater to a new type of consumer, the disability community and their unique perspectives were left behind.
This understandably has led to frustration from many who believe this movement to be a step backwards in creating equitable and accessible cities for all.
However, could a correctly designed outdoor seating space actually increase accessibility?
An Alternative Narrative: Could Outdoor Dining Increase Accessibility?
This diminishing amount of accessibility in many of the urban locations around the world due to the trends brought about by COVID-19 is particularly disappointing because outdoor dining plans with accessible designs could be a gamechanger for people with disabilities.
Outdoor seating arrangements that have been specifically designed to be ADA accessible and have been developed with the consultation of people that specialize in accessible design would significantly increase the number of restaurants that people with disabilities could easily access.
For restaurants that have steps and tight spaces, investing in creating accessible outdoor seating would allow a whole new customer base to enjoy their food. No longer would people with disabilities have to worry about making it up the stairs or squeezing their chair through a restaurant.
However, while these outdoor dining spaces are being designed, there are many critical factors that must be considered. The dining space must be spread out enough to allow the maneuvering of assistive devices without interrupting other diners. The space itself must be situated on the sidewalk or street in such a way that passersby can still wheel past. If on the street, there must be a ramp available to transfer the wheelchairs from the sidewalk to street.
The consideration of these factors will go a long way in ensuring the future of restaurants is more inclusive and accessible to all members of society.
Written by Ryan Trombly
Ryan Trombly was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was eighteen months old. The disability causes right-side hemiparesis that affects the entire right side of her body, weakening her muscles and limiting her mobility in everyday activities. Despite this, Ryan has strived to live an independent life without any barriers and hopes to use her voice to advocate for the disability community.
Want to read the article this blog post was based on? Check out: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-06-23/can-outdoor-dining-fix-its-accessibility-problems