A Downtown Madison Inc. taskforce is working with restaurants to make patio spaces more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities, The Capital Times reports.
A 2019 Downtown Madison Accessibility Report from the taskforce found that 45% of respondents had encountered barriers accessing a private business downtown, and 23% avoided private businesses downtown due to accessibility barriers.
Common issues cited were absence of wheelchair ramps, tightly packed tables, inaccessibility of toilets, and a lack of awareness of rights pertaining to service animals.
The taskforce will develop video guidelines that businesses can use to make their space and practices more inclusive. The project is still in the planning stages; videos are likely to discuss the value of menus with images, large text, and straightforward language as well as accessible and sensory-friendly seating setups.
The videos will be shot in September and made available to the public.
