Accessible Date: Jeremy, Aidan, Tyler

Date Night

As a group we made it our mission to evaluate the accessibility for wheelchair users in Columbia.

We judged facilities based on not only meeting necessary ADA regulations but noting stressful accommodations and other issues. Our date met us for dinner at India’s House which is conveniently located in the middle of downtown on Broadway Street. The sidewalks in the downtown area are in fairly good shape and posed no major issues for travel. Although we must also take into account how far our date may have had to travel and what sidewalk conditions were like from their home.

Sidewalks in fair shape.

Reachable crosswalk button.

Date Map

Dinner: India's House

We began the date with dinner at India’s House. The lovely restaurant immediately stuck out as an inconvenience due to its entryway. The outer door includes a door handle on the right side, opening toward the left, which would make it hard for one in a wheelchair to get through. After the first door, there is another door opening the same way with very little space to get by. Getting a wheelchair through the second door would have been a major struggle for a wheelchair user because it requires a very tight turn. The floor of the restaurant contained mostly booths, with three standard tables and chairs. Essentially, the tables would comfortably accommodate wheelchair users, however, in the case that all tables were taken, wheelchair users would have to sit at the end of booths. Crowding is a huge potential issue in that regard. The buffet table was surprisingly low and pretty accessible. The bathrooms are not accessible by any means; they include tight turns and there is practically no space for an able-bodied person to turn around in them, so a wheelchair user would surely be out of luck. The staff members seemed friendly and willing to assist, but we could have surely chosen a more accessible option for dinner.

Tight entrance, door handle hard to reach.

Ripped up ramp.

Door opens into a terribly tight area.

Dining tables.

Lunch buffet station.

Host/Hostess stand, fairly high.

Completely inaccessable bathrooms. 

Far too tight: Stamp of Disproval.

Entertainment: Slackers

After a lovely dinner at India’s House we made our way across the street to Slackers to browse their selection of comic books, films, and games. The entrance to Slackers was open and easy to navigate, but the rows of shelves inside were somewhat tight. There was also the problem of several hard-to-reach items. The staff there were very helpful and accommodating, but we noted that asking for help to reach something may be an anxiety-inducing prospect, or at the very least annoying when on a date. There was one specific area that was entirely inaccessible (which was very disappointing, as this was the location of the Star Wars figurines). Aside from these factors, spending an evening at Slackers would be enjoyable and entertaining.

Wide Entrance 

Narrow but usable aisles

Deep shelving, hard to reach the back.

Inaccessible corner (Star Wars figurines).

Low countertops.

Privacy: Ucentre on Turner

After a long night of very enjoyable comic book browsing and fork shoveling we headed to an apartment at Ucentre on Turner for some much needed privacy. The sidewalks narrow and increase in bumps and cracks as we navigated away from the downtown area, later returning to an acceptable condition near campus. Once arriving at the apartment complex we were pleased beyond belief. The halls are wide, stairs are matched with ramps, and the elevators are extremely wide and comfortable. Inside the apartment is a spacious, open-layout kitchen and living room. The half bar that serves as the kitchen counter is a bit high and not ideal but certainly usable. The trickiest part is getting into the bedroom. It is a much narrower space which limits and possibly prevents mobility around the sharp corners. This might make getting to the bathroom, which large and equipped with a low-setting sink and mirror, difficult. The bed is also higher than average and we deemed it not functional. All things said and done, we enjoyed are private time in the living room area. This seems to have been a common issue with many spaces. A space can be deemed accessible if a wheelchair user can enter the area, it does not always translate to reaching all attractions.

Wide entryway with smooth concrete.

Low-sitting key access.

Extremely wide hallways.

Large elevator: stamp of approval.

Spacious living an kitchen area.

Very tight entrance into bedroom.

Tall bed.

Indoor ramp.

Finishing Thoughts...

We did want to point out how differences in income affect accessibility. The newer, more expensive apartment complexes are more likely to be accessible than cheaper alternatives. The sidewalks in the lower income parts of town will likely follow suit in declining quality. It is important to understand all aspects of accessibility and the factors that contribute to individuals can differ. We also recognized that each step of our date had issues, whether large or small it impacted our time together. It was an eye-opening experience that took our knowledge from the classroom and brought it to life. We will most definitely be more conscious of public spaces and how simple design flaws can make drastic impact on the lives of many.