Bloomington businesses given awards for accessibility efforts

Becoming an easily accessible business is not simple. It takes money, time and space to make a building accessible to people with disabilities.

Twenty Bloomington businesses were commended Oct. 25 by the Council for Community Accessibility for their efforts to overcome accessibility concerns and help their businesses meet standards with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Each business received a window decal in recognition of its efforts within the past year to make the business more available to people in the community with disabilities.

Katie Herron, chairwoman of the Bloomington CCA, said businesses throughout Bloomington were given a chance to be nominated during an open call to the public and were then reviewed based on accessibility concerns like handicap parking availability, bathroom railings and aisle space within the business.

The 20 recognized businesses included The Butcher’s Block, located at 115 S. State Road 46, Subway on North Walnut Street and Moe’s Southwest Grill, also at 115 S. State Road 46.

The Butcher’s Block was recognized because of its commitment to customer service and acknowledgement of customers with disabilities through strategically placed displays that allow for more floor space, owner Dave Schell said.

“We always try to be proactive when we think about our in-store design,” Schell said. “And good planning helps to reduce future spending costs.”

Schell added that for his business, a 3,000 square-foot building located on a busy intersection, small improvements were essential to providing accessibility for customers.

“Our place is about the size of a small gas station or convenience store,” Schell said.

The Butcher’s Block features handicap parking in front of the store and wheelchair accessibility.

Herron encouraged all businesses to take advantage of ways to make themselves more accessible.

“I know some of my colleagues with disabilities and their friends and family who won’t go to a place if it’s not accessible,” Herron said. “They know they won’t have proper parking or that they won’t have ramps to get to a stage for a performance, so it’s certainly an issue for people who have disabilities. And as people learn about this, I’d hope that they would support the businesses that are accessible.”

At Moe’s Southwest Grill , manager Jenny Hendrickson said, the award is an honor because the employees are able to give back to their customers.

Moe’s does not have handicap parking in front of its building, but it does provide handicap accessible railings in bathroom stalls and widened doorways for extra mobility.

And though the restaurant does not feature wheelchair accessible ramps, the staff is trained and willing to help disabled patrons when entering or exiting the store, Hendrickson said.

Herron recommended that companies receive a free evaluation by the CCA to find out if their building qualifies as an accessible business based on ADA standards.

“We have volunteers who are trained in ADA policy,” Herron said. “It’s to your benefit to allow the maximum number of people access to your business.”