Gorgeous new gourmet grocery store in town
- Thread starter mimi
- Start date
dawn_mo
Well-known member
I would suggest contacting them, and ask if they are going to make their store
wheel chair accessable before doing anything else. Perhaps they have plans to do that, or when they get your call, they will reconsider their plans. I would try to get info first before assuming they will not make it wheelchair accessable. Maybe your voice will make a difference to them.
wheel chair accessable before doing anything else. Perhaps they have plans to do that, or when they get your call, they will reconsider their plans. I would try to get info first before assuming they will not make it wheelchair accessable. Maybe your voice will make a difference to them.
I agree, Dawn, and I'm glad to hear Mimi plans to speak to the management first. I'm a store owner,
in an old building, and I can understand them wanting to maintain a certain look on the facade. Is it possible they are planning a second entrance in the back? Provided it's a proper entry and not a cluttered path through the stockroom, it could be a good solution.
It doesn't make sense not to have a ramped entrance somewhere. It's not only wheelchairs that are excluded, but strollers, caddies, etc.
in an old building, and I can understand them wanting to maintain a certain look on the facade. Is it possible they are planning a second entrance in the back? Provided it's a proper entry and not a cluttered path through the stockroom, it could be a good solution.
It doesn't make sense not to have a ramped entrance somewhere. It's not only wheelchairs that are excluded, but strollers, caddies, etc.
At least as a first step. I would be much more receptive to someone coming directly to me
with a problem with my store. I'm sure Mimi could charm any reasonable business owner into building a ramp. If not, then it's time to write letters.
I totally sympathize with the frustration of not having access.
with a problem with my store. I'm sure Mimi could charm any reasonable business owner into building a ramp. If not, then it's time to write letters.
I totally sympathize with the frustration of not having access.
shaun-in-to
Well-known member
In Canada, such affairs are a provincial/territorial, not a federal, concern. Ontario is
the only province to have a stand-alone "persons with disabilities" act, dating to 2001, and it's fairly watered down (mostly voluntary, no penalties, not retroactive, etc.). Other provinces have started to add accessibility standards to their building codes. Even without laws, though, public attention can be a great motivator. You don't see much built or renovated in Toronto that isn't accessible. I wonder, though, if in the case of Mimi's local store there's isn't some kind of heritage restriction.
the only province to have a stand-alone "persons with disabilities" act, dating to 2001, and it's fairly watered down (mostly voluntary, no penalties, not retroactive, etc.). Other provinces have started to add accessibility standards to their building codes. Even without laws, though, public attention can be a great motivator. You don't see much built or renovated in Toronto that isn't accessible. I wonder, though, if in the case of Mimi's local store there's isn't some kind of heritage restriction.
Well, here's how it went...
I wheeled up to the front entrance (three steps) and waited there for someone to come out. When they did, they asked me if I needed help and I just asked them if they would ask the manager to come see me. The store owner came up right behind her and said that the store was accessible in the back. He also said he'd meet me back there. This foreboded ill because if he needed to meet me in back, then it couldn`t have been very accessible. But I went back to my car, drove around to the back alley, and parked in back of the building. There was indeed parking back there for two cars, although it wasn't marked as disabled parking. Then there was a steep slope covered with about 3 inches of snow, and a back door with about a 3-inch step up at the threshold. The store owner was waiting for me and he asked me if I could get down there. I said no. He said he'd help, and actually he seemed quite nice and anxious for me to get into his store. Normally I would have never done this but I decided to give them a chance, for some reason, and allowed him to help me down the slope. Just to give you an idea, I hate being pushed SO MUCH that my chair doesn't even have handles on the back. But he got me down there and through the door. Once in, they asked me if it was OK and I had to say that no, it wasn't but they asked what could make it better. I said, less of a slope, put down some sand so it`s not slippery, and fix the change of level at the threshhold. I actually bought something, and then getting back up to my car was quite a production involving two people from the store pushing me backwards up the hill. NOT my idea of an accessible entrance, but they seemed anxious to make it right and interested in my opinion, so they get some brownie points for that. I also told them that with the steps in the front, I would never have even gone by there to talk to them if it wasn`t for the fact that I am currently working on a film on this very subject, and that they should at least have a sign with a wheelchair icon in the front saying that there is access (sort of) in the rear.
So, no, it wasn`t accessible, but they seemed to have made somewhat of an effort and also seemed to want to make it really work. However, time will tell if they actually do it, but I`m not going through that again. Having to be pushed up a hill by two store employees is not my idea of "accessible entrance".
As an aside, the idea that "disabled people have to come through the back entrance" reminds me very much of "black people have to sit in the back of the bus". It relegates us to the status of second-class citizens.
I interviewed some other store owners today as well, as part of my film. One had a terrazzo step up into his building. I asked him why he hadn't cut it down to make a ramp and he said "That terrazzo dates back to the 1930s and it's part of the history of the city of Rouyn. There's almost no terrazzo left in town. I'm not cutting it down." That's all very well, but something is wrong when "look" and minor architectural elements of buildings with minor historical significance are more important than justice, equality and human rights.
To bring this back to a somewhat food-related topic, I got a $21 bottle of Greek olive oil and a block of lavender-infused dark chocolate.
) Time will tell if I spend any more money there again.
I wheeled up to the front entrance (three steps) and waited there for someone to come out. When they did, they asked me if I needed help and I just asked them if they would ask the manager to come see me. The store owner came up right behind her and said that the store was accessible in the back. He also said he'd meet me back there. This foreboded ill because if he needed to meet me in back, then it couldn`t have been very accessible. But I went back to my car, drove around to the back alley, and parked in back of the building. There was indeed parking back there for two cars, although it wasn't marked as disabled parking. Then there was a steep slope covered with about 3 inches of snow, and a back door with about a 3-inch step up at the threshold. The store owner was waiting for me and he asked me if I could get down there. I said no. He said he'd help, and actually he seemed quite nice and anxious for me to get into his store. Normally I would have never done this but I decided to give them a chance, for some reason, and allowed him to help me down the slope. Just to give you an idea, I hate being pushed SO MUCH that my chair doesn't even have handles on the back. But he got me down there and through the door. Once in, they asked me if it was OK and I had to say that no, it wasn't but they asked what could make it better. I said, less of a slope, put down some sand so it`s not slippery, and fix the change of level at the threshhold. I actually bought something, and then getting back up to my car was quite a production involving two people from the store pushing me backwards up the hill. NOT my idea of an accessible entrance, but they seemed anxious to make it right and interested in my opinion, so they get some brownie points for that. I also told them that with the steps in the front, I would never have even gone by there to talk to them if it wasn`t for the fact that I am currently working on a film on this very subject, and that they should at least have a sign with a wheelchair icon in the front saying that there is access (sort of) in the rear.
So, no, it wasn`t accessible, but they seemed to have made somewhat of an effort and also seemed to want to make it really work. However, time will tell if they actually do it, but I`m not going through that again. Having to be pushed up a hill by two store employees is not my idea of "accessible entrance".
As an aside, the idea that "disabled people have to come through the back entrance" reminds me very much of "black people have to sit in the back of the bus". It relegates us to the status of second-class citizens.
I interviewed some other store owners today as well, as part of my film. One had a terrazzo step up into his building. I asked him why he hadn't cut it down to make a ramp and he said "That terrazzo dates back to the 1930s and it's part of the history of the city of Rouyn. There's almost no terrazzo left in town. I'm not cutting it down." That's all very well, but something is wrong when "look" and minor architectural elements of buildings with minor historical significance are more important than justice, equality and human rights.
To bring this back to a somewhat food-related topic, I got a $21 bottle of Greek olive oil and a block of lavender-infused dark chocolate.
) Time will tell if I spend any more money there again.
Mimi, I hope they take your suggestions seriously. It seems they hadn't given the issue much thought
Sending you down their loading ramp is not a proper welcome!
I think the most important thing you told them is that you wouldn't have bothered with their store, because of the steps, if you didn't have an assignment.
Sending you down their loading ramp is not a proper welcome!
I think the most important thing you told them is that you wouldn't have bothered with their store, because of the steps, if you didn't have an assignment.
I'll certainly be interested in the outcome of your visit. I really believe that people need to be
informed first so that they have a full chance to be knowledgable twits if they do nothing.
I"m glad you mentioned not wanting to be pushed as it's always been a feeling of mine that many people don't want that. So I walk along beside but have never really asked.
Thresholds that are just 2" can be a real problem for me if I am pushing or pulling/yanking because the door itself can be so aggressive. I wouldn't want to see you trying to negotiate that.
I salute your effort. I think most people are rather ignorant and filling them in a bit can be helpful, always giving them the benefit of the doubt. Let's just see about that.....
Now I'm wondering, didn't any passers-by ask if you wanted help at the front door?
informed first so that they have a full chance to be knowledgable twits if they do nothing.
I"m glad you mentioned not wanting to be pushed as it's always been a feeling of mine that many people don't want that. So I walk along beside but have never really asked.
Thresholds that are just 2" can be a real problem for me if I am pushing or pulling/yanking because the door itself can be so aggressive. I wouldn't want to see you trying to negotiate that.
I salute your effort. I think most people are rather ignorant and filling them in a bit can be helpful, always giving them the benefit of the doubt. Let's just see about that.....
Now I'm wondering, didn't any passers-by ask if you wanted help at the front door?
amanda_pennsylvania
Well-known member
Sounds like you kept your cool and got your point across.
You catch more flies with honey and all that...
You catch more flies with honey and all that...