After my exciting afternoon at the cheese shop, I wrote to the manager. Several weeks later, she left me a voice mail expressing her desire to make changes.
A month ago, I drove by and was pleasantly surprised to find a nice sign in the front directing wheelchair users to the back, a new permit parking space in the back, and a big sign asking people to ring the bell at the accessible entrance. Good job!
My letter to the editor was in the paper (I would link to the letter, but the Daily Times Call doesn’t keep archives) today:
I would like to thank Caroline Welker, General Manager of Cheese Importers on South Pratt Parkway, for her work in making the store more accessible to the disabled.
Cheese Importers had a no-step entrance in the back, but no signs to direct customers or parking. Now there are signs, parking, and a call bell, and customers who use wheelchairs no longer need to call ahead in order to shop there.
July 26th is the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I hope that other Longmont businesses that are not yet accessible will follow Cheese Importers’ example.
That’s so awesome, Katja. It’s always great when you get such a positive response from business owners. The propaganda out there about it being too expensive for small businesses to make the needed changes is just ridiculous, as this example shows. And, in my experience, business owners are always mortified if they’re *not* accessible — they sometimes just need someone to make the proper suggestions. So yes, congrats, and thanks especially for making headway in such an important industry for all of humanity: CHEESE! :-D
I have periodically been checking out your journal since it was featured in New Mobility. It’s very interesting.
I appreciated this post and the previous post about the inaccessible business and how you sent them a copy of the ADA information. I’ve bookmarked the web page listed and I am certain that will come in very handy.
Thanks.
Good for you! Our city has handicap access sidewalks but I find folks that cut into the street rather than go to a corner. That I can understand as well.
Monday I had a very small taste of floors that are not good for persons in a wheel chair without the padding and motor. Of all things it is in a military hospital! Fancy brick that is the bumpiest ride one could ever have.
I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful. I’ve been checking your site out, too, since you started it all for New Mobility – thanks for the kind mention on your site.