Accessible Neighborhoods Heading link
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Accessible Chinatown
Accessible Chinatown is dedicated to bridging the gap between Chinatown business owners and customers living with disabilities. We visit local shops in Chicago’s beautiful Chinatown and assess them for their ability to accommodate people living with disabilities. We carry with us an “Accessibility Stick” designed to determine whether China town’s grocery stores, gift shops, restaurants, banks, and various other businesses meet the specifications put forth by the American’s with Disabilities Act. Those who comply (at least to the degree to which they are able) are given a sticker for their window to show that they are prepared to receive the business of the community of people with disabilities. Look for the sign below to determine those businesses participating in the program.
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Accessible Uptown
Accessible Uptown is dedicated to bridging the gap between Uptown business owners and customers living with disabilities. We visit local shops in Chicago’s Uptown and assess them for their ability to accommodate people living with disabilities. We carry with us an “Accessibility Stick” designed to determine whether Uptown’s grocery stores, gift shops, restaurants, and various other businesses meet the specifications put forth by the American’s with Disabilities Act. Those who comply (at least to the degree to which they are able) are given a sticker for their window to show that they are prepared to receive the business of the community of people with disabilities. Look for the sticker below to determine those businesses participating in the program.
This assessment was conducted in March of 2015 and focused on the following streets: W. Argyle between N. Sheridan Rd and N. Broadway and N. Broadway between W. Foster and W. Lawrence
Become accessible Heading link
Making your business accessible to customers with special needs is usually easier than you might think. Often it is just a few minor changes to how you are already doing business.
- Your entrance needs to be wheelchair accessible. This means that the entrance to your shop must be at least 32 inches wide and must not have a step up that would deter someone in a wheel chair from entering. Usually, a step up can be accommodated by purchasing a portable ramp that can be placed as needed when customers in wheelchairs are present. This option is possible as long as the step up is less than one foot high.
- People in wheelchairs need to be able to make their way through all the aisles of your business. Therefore all aisles must be no less than 3 feet wide and the floor must be clear of obstructions.
- Restaurant tables must be between 28-34 inches high to accommodate the general height of wheelchairs. Most restaurants will find they already meet this criteria.
- Employees must be prepared to accommodate deaf or blind customers by writing down their communications when needed, and assisting people customers in finding the items they have come to purchase.
- Restaurants that make restrooms accessible to their customers must provide an accessible entrance to their bathroom for those in a wheelchair as well. Again this means the doorway to the restroom must be at least 32 inches wide.
These are the basic issues that Accessible Chinatown will be addressing. There are many more ways to increase your ability to assist those living with disabilities.
Click here to read the 2010 Small Business Primer
Not all businesses will be able to meet all these recommendations. Our directory will make an attempt to detail the ways in which businesses have managed to become more accessible.
ADOPT @ NERC Inaugural Business EXPO 2013 Heading link
The Asians with Disabilities Outreach Project Thinktank presents at NERC’s Inaugural Business EXPO at Truman College. Jae Jin Pak speaks about ADOPT’s initiative along with partnering organizations Chinese Mutual Aid Association and Asian Human Services.