Free Wheelchair Accessible Restaurant Listings
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Dear NYC Restauranteurs: For over a decade, I have been writing an accessibility guide (WBDO) which focused on dining out in New York City Metro. It has, in the past, included restaurant reviews and included comprehensive information on restaurant's wheelchair accessibility. Throughout the years, I have received emails from around the world thanking me for providing the information and/or asking for other access information. I am revamping my dining out guide site to be an active, free listing of totally wheelchair accessible restaurants in New York, NY, and changed the name to Ballard's Access Guide. Though I am revamping my guide, I continue to receive emails from disabled travelers and/or family members of disabled individuals from around the globe who are planning to visit New York, NY; asking me for accessibility information near their hotel or near the activites they plan to engage in. By an "active" free listing, I mean that you will continue to stay in touch with me regarding changes and updates to your listing. So if you open another restaurant across town with exactly the same wheelchair accessible amenites, I would like to add that to your free listing, or if you have closed your restaurant for remodeling, or have closed a location completely, it would be helpful for my readers to know. If you are planning to have other amenities, such as braille menus, but don't have any at present, please wait till you actually have them in your restaurant before claiming that detail in your free listing. Please also know that I'm not a NYC inspector, and I have nothing to do with reporting to the city health department or giving out fines. However, if you do list your restaurant as totally wheelchair accessible, I will eventually stop by to double check. Understand that I'm only trying to make sure that my readers are being given totally accurate information. Plus, with your (the owner's / manager's) permission, I will create a quick video showing total accessibility of your restaurant/eatery. This is a free service I do in my spare time, I am not subsidized or affiliated with any organizations. Please be patient as your free listing will be uploaded as soon as I have time. Thank you. Sincerely, Wen Ballard
Totally wheelchair accessible to me means; criteria: • There is a smooth entrance or ramp at the entrance/exit of your restaurant (no steps and no slight curb-like raises in concrete or wood that might be difficult for a person in a wheelchair to easily roll over). • The doorway at least 36" wide, enough for a wheelchair to comfortably roll through. • All pathways to tables, food service, restrooms, coatcheck, etc. are at least 36" wide, enough for a wheelchair to comfortably roll through and maneuver. • The restroom is on the dining area level with no steps or other elements that might impede a person in a wheelchair from easy access. • The restroom walls have standard ADA railings inside appropriately situated, and the restroom area is spacious enough for a large person to lift themselves off a wheelchair and onto the toilet seat, and/or with the help of their personal assistant. • Any other anemities your eatery might have such as braille menus, if your staff knows American Sign Language, a changing shelf in restrooms for infants, your staff will slice or cut up food for someone who has minimal use of their hands; I will be happy to list! ============================================= Please copy and paste what's cited below in an email, Restaurant name:
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