Dining out with a physical disability

Written by Hannah Earley, input from Mitchell Earley

I can’t count the number of times growing up that Mitch had to enter a restaurant through the back “entrance” or the kitchen just because he needed a ramp. Then right on cue, as soon as you entered the building, there was barely enough (if any at all) space to maneuver to the host stand to then have to maneuver to your table. We were always asking people to scoot in or having to move an empty chair around to create space, maybe even moving tables at a time while walking to our table to enjoy a dinner out in the community. If anyone has ever been with me in the community, you know how angry I get at the people who park in handicap parking “just for a few minutes while they run into the store” or the people that park over a curb cutout or the “no parking” lines next to a handicap space! And then…. when I notice that someone using a wheelchair (or walker or is unable to do a curb) will have to go 1/2 a block to be able to access ANY curb cutout at all even from their handicap parking spot. And then…. the sidewalk is “jank” and you don’t even have a secure path to the ramp/entrance. OR… all these things with handicap parking happen, then you notice a sign on the front entrance that says “handicap entrance in the back,” then you have to navigate all around the building to then be able to use the ramp to the kitchen. I MEAN COME ON.

If there is a special occasion and the Earley family is going out for dinner, the first question asked is, “will Mitch be able to get through.” I usually call the restaurant and make sure that the space has a front entrance and that it is accessible to navigate once inside. Then I typically ask for a special note to be left for the reservation for a wheelchair-user table and space.

Because once inside and once at the table to host selected, you have to think about what height the table is for a wheelchair user. They can’t reach at a bar top but also some tables are too low to be able to get a wheelchair with table-arms under it (like a transport chair or a lot of manual wheelchairs). And sometimes the feet of the table make it impossible to get close to the table itself.

This world is made for people who walk. No wonder the world considers people with differing abilities different or not “normal”.