A menu is the first thing anyone is greeted with when they arrive at a restaurant and sit down. Sometimes, it takes the form of a touch-screen board. Other times, it takes the form of a fancy, paper menu. In fact, an often overlooked element of a restaurant is the menu itself. We typically think that certain restaurants, restaurants that have been in business for decades (fast food or sit-down), keep their old traditions and items, creating foods that thousands and even millions enjoy to this day. And although their standards may remain the same, a restaurant’s menu is not static, fluctuating in price and changing its medium over the course of many years. With that in mind, it may be time to change the menu one more time.
For many, a menu is easy to use. Look through the choices and pick the one you crave the most. Simple. Neutral. Unfortunately, a menu is only effective if it is understandable or even readable. For many individuals who are low vision or blind, this may become an impossible task. In truth, reading the fine print for the ingredients is already a challenge for most. Let’s be honest: who really understands what a sweated onion is? Thus, it should come as no surprise that blind people, who have to overcome both barriers, fail to get all the necessary information and need help from others to order. That diminishes their own personal autonomy and agency.
So what can be done to truly help those who struggle to perform seemingly easy tasks, like reading a menu? Restaurants can begin by training staff members on how to handle the situation if a blind or low vision customer comes. According to the NIH, 1.2 million people living in the U.S today are legally blind. This means that it would be worthwhile to teach staff members Braille and train them in the event that a blind person visits their restaurant. Moreover, as a tangible solution, restaurants can begin to implement Braille menus. For example, using a local restaurant as an example, Hapgoods has implemented a Braille menu to cater to those who need it. Not only has the menu helped those who are blind, but it also allows people who are low vision or older to read the menu items because of the larger text.
However, even with these solutions, most businesses are not given an incentive to implement them. Admittedly, for most, it may be seen as a hassle. Many restaurants are just trying to stay afloat, and adding more rules and requirements may be a burden for them. This is exactly where legal policies can step in. For starters, local and federal governmental agencies could offer tax reductions for those who abide by ADA accessibility guidelines. By offering more reductions, it may encourage a more widespread adoption of these menus.
Furthermore, running a successful business often requires expansion and renovation. Therefore, the government can build on existing policies that allow for “fast track renovation” (functionally speeding up the time it takes for grants to be permitted), incentivizing the business to follow regulations established for PWDs (people with disabilities).
Menus should not be a barrier to independence. By adopting accessible formats like Braille, and strengthening incentives through policy, restaurants can create a more inclusive dining experience for all customers.
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