Your not coming in here!

Category: Let's talk

Post 1 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 30-Apr-2005 11:24:46

A gorgeous genuinely Italian restaurant has opened in Glasgow..its very popular ...at least with those who can get up the steps and struggle through the tight awkward doorway..LA Vita! {the life} have deliberately flouted the rights of wheelchair users, by designing the building with only non disabled customers in mind...it's a deliberate slap in the face to anyone with a mobility problem..even someone blind/vi would have problems, as the steps are set wide apart and the door opens barely wide enough, for 1 person at a time...so yet again disabled people will have another fight on their hands to gain access as is their right....

Post 2 by puppybraille (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Saturday, 30-Apr-2005 12:24:15

That's not cool! You'd think they'd wanna have the their restaurant accessible because isn't there a law there that's sort of similar to the ADA?
Forgive my ignorance on this subject.

Post 3 by midnight_princess (Newborn Zoner) on Saturday, 30-Apr-2005 18:43:48

Bummer.

Post 4 by Godzilla-On-Toast (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 30-Apr-2005 19:57:55

I need something clarified here. Did they design this place purposely to shut out those with disabilities, or is it just a style thing, as in having those wide steps and narrow doors has some kind of cool architectural thing going on. I guess their sensibilities are so delicate that nobody but the absolutely physically normal dare darken their doors, else there's a huge snob factor going on here. Typical ugly humans.

Post 5 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Saturday, 30-Apr-2005 22:27:21

maybe they didnt think about it being a problem for disabled people. that would be wierd if that were indeed the case, but its kinda hard to say i guess.

Post 6 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 01-May-2005 9:05:47

Labyrinth the entrance has been designed to be attractive and the epitome of Italian style it is anything but accessible..The owners are Italian and judging by their indifferent attitude to a wheelchair user in their other restaurant,I was having lunch at the time and couldn't believe the way this customer was being treated, it would be safe to assume it's deliberate

Post 7 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 01-May-2005 9:07:44

Puppybraille there is the Disability discrimination act which states that shop owners ect must try to make their premises accessible to all disabled people...La Vita have not done so...

Post 8 by Senior (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 01-May-2005 10:39:29

I doubt this was done deliberately, I think they probably just didn't think about disability related issues with regards the buildings design.

Post 9 by Godzilla-On-Toast (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 01-May-2005 13:12:58

I thought I heard somewhere that the rudeness of the staff of a high-class restaurant was supposed to be a sign of their high-class status or something. More snob factor again?

Post 10 by sugarbaby (The voice of reason) on Sunday, 01-May-2005 16:36:24

the DDA states that companies have to make "reasonable adjustments" to their properties in order to make them accessible to disabled customers. I would imagine it's most likely that the owners of this restaurant probably didn't even think of it, after all, in the restaurant trade it's not like you can generally afford to be that picky about who you do and do not wish to serve.

I agree though that it is very hard on wheelchair users - the BBC did an experiment recently where they sent wheelchair users to six diferent cities in the country to do various things, shop for clothes, have a meal out, do a bank transaction ... can't remember what else, but the access was simply horrendous.

Post 11 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 02-May-2005 7:27:28

not always Labyrinth we have been to a high class French restaurant where we were treated with repect and courtesy..To Italians aesthetics are everything,they are obssesed by how you look and dress ect ...although the owners of LA Vita, have taken this superficial snobbery to another level

Post 12 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Monday, 02-May-2005 8:03:13

Not much has changed here and unless disabled people metaphorically get off their arses, nothing will, the DDA doesnt go far enough it's far too lenient we need action and we need it now!