Dating Accessibly in Downtown Columbia, MO
For our date, we started out at Raine’s apartment
which is off of College Avenue. Our destinations after that included dinner at
Ingredient, strolling on the Rain Garden Trail and then catching a movie at
RagTag Cinema. Raine was also able to get some chocolate from work as a gift to
make a good first impression.
Part One: Departure
Originally, we intended to start our journey from
Emily's apartment, as it was closer to downtown Columbia. However, we
realized that Emily's apartment was not accessible on many different levels.
The front door to Emily's apartment is only accessible by stairs. Additionally,
an individual would have to travel on a cobblestone path before they could
reach the stairs. After realizing that Emily's apartment was not an option for
our date, we went to Raine's apartment.
Raine's apartment complex, which was located on the
east part of the University of Missouri campus, has 3 wheelchair accessible
ramps and a number of accessible apartments on the ground level. However,
that left just a few apartments with wheel chair access. Most apartments in the
complex have stairs to get to the upper floors or there are a few steps that
one needs to climb before even getting to the first floor apartments.
Fortunately, Raine's was an apartment on the ground level that didn’t have
steps.
Part Two: Dinner
Our next destination was getting a casual dinner at
Ingredient downtown. The distance from Raine's apartment to our next
destination, which was in the heart of downtown, was 1.3 miles. However, the
journey took us down College Avenue and through campus, so the sidewalks were
well maintained and easy to navigate. Though it is quite a long distance from
the apartment complex, it turned out to be a nice day and we didn’t mind the
exercise. On the journey over we were able to talk and get to know each other a
little better.
Once we arrived to Ingredient, we noticed that ordering at the registers
was difficult because the tables were higher than chair level. Further, the way
that the sign and registers were positioned would make it difficult for
a person at chair level to have a conversation with the host or
hostess. Luckily, Ingredient has menus posted on their front door as well
as paper menus on a table as we walk in. This made it a little easier to
order.
Further, we noticed that getting drinks would also be difficult. The
soda fountains there were too high for our companion to fill his or her cup,
but, we were glad to help them out. Finally, finding a seat was easy.
Ingredient has wheelchair accessible tables that we were able to sit at. But,
if there happened to be none available, it would have been more difficult to
navigate.
Part Three: Alone Time at the Rain Garden
After dinner, we decided that it was a good idea to spend some time
together outdoors and talk before it got too dark outside. We decided to go to
the Rain Garden Trail by Flat Branch. We decided to stroll around the
trail and spend some time getting to know each other more. It was
very peaceful and scenic outside. On the way back towards downtown we decided
to sit in the gazebo before going to RagTag to see a movie.
Part Four: RagTag Cinema
The end of our night concluded seeing a movie at
RagTag. When we first walked into RagTag, we noticed that the tables were
pretty close together, which made it difficult to pass through.
However, things got better as we started to get to the ticket
booth. The ticket booth was at chair height, so our companion could easily
purchase his or her ticket.
The restrooms in RagTag cinema were a mixed bag.
Though there is a separate, accessible restroom in RagTag Cinema, the main
women's restroom proved to be incredibly unaccessible. Neither of the two
stalls were large enough to be accessible nor was either marked as accessible.
The men's restroom was a single restroom with railing. Thus, it was accessible.
All restrooms had accessible door handles.
The way the theaters in RagTag are set up is
relatively wheel chair accessible. The theaters are stocked with couches and
individuals chairs. Our companion would have plenty of room sitting next us or
it would just as easy to move a chair if they wanted to sit closer to the
middle. We decided to sit in the middle aisle and move a chair for
our companion.
After seeing a movie, our date was concluded. We
all had a great time even though we ran into some obstacles during dinner that
made it difficult for our companion but, we were able to manage or help them
out. Other than that, our date was very successful and we look
forward to our second date.
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