Restaurant Inaccessibility: Present Day Discrimination By: Miranda Sue Terry, M.S. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Stephen J. Notaro, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Diane L. Smith, Ph.D., OTR/L University of Missouri

History The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 –Breakdown barriers for People with Disabilities: Employment Transportation Public Accommodations & Services Telecommunications

History –…By breaking down these barriers, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will enable society to benefit from the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities, will allow us all to gain from their increased purchasing power and ability to use it, and will lead to fuller, more productive lives for all Americans. Source:

Title III Provide some examples of private businesses: –Doctors Offices –Theatres – Schools/Day Care Centers –Hotels/Bars –Parks, Zoos, etc. –Restaurants ***

Restaurants Great example of private businesses offering goods and services What kinds of services do restaurants provide? –Food –Alcohol –Community Participation –Socialization Opportunities

Restaurants How often do you go out to eat… –Once a month? –Twice a month? –Once a week? –Twice a week? –Five times a week? –At least once daily?

Restaurants –57% vs. 73% (16% gap) –In the 18- to 29- age group the gap shrinks to 64% vs. 71% (7% gap) –Source: National Organization on Disability (NOD)/Harris Interactive Survey (2004)

Research Focuses on restaurant accessibility. Hypothesis: –Nationally-owned restaurants would be more compliant with the ADA than locally-owned restaurants.

Research Type of study –an observational, –cross-sectional, and –descriptive study of restaurant accessibility –based on the minimum guidelines for public buildings per ADA Title III. These minimum guidelines were used to determine compliance levels of restaurants.

Research Sampling frame: –Included were 271 bars and cafés that were listed under the restaurant section of the Yellowbook and served food were included in the sampling frame. –11 national –15 local

Research Response rate: 77% –20 out of 26 restaurants participated Data for 54 guidelines was collected from 20 restaurants –Total of 1080 measurements

Research Based on the hypothesis, do you think… –Nationally-owned restaurants more compliant? –Locally-owned restaurants more compliant? Results: –Locally-owned restaurants were more compliant. –No restaurants were 100% compliant

Important SO, why is this important? –Discrimination is wrong –If individuals with disabilities cannot utilize the restaurant for leisure purposes then it also eliminates the possibility of employment –Accessibility can benefit everyone not only people with disabilities For example…

Important AND… –Disabilities can be congenital or acquired; thus, an individual without a disability can join this minority group as result of aging or accidents.

ADD!!! Pictures of most common inaccessible features (? As on poster) Results chart (? As on poster) Business Incentives for becoming more accessible (tax breaks & incentives) New 2012 deadlines for compliance