Accessible Scavenger Hunt PART 2

MCIL Accessible Scavenger Hunt at Laurelwood Shopping.

The MCIL accessible scavenger hunt visited the Laurelwood Shopping Center on Poplar this Friday. This time our goal was simplified to: Please find examples of accessibility and community inclusion.

We all met at the Panera Bread just off of Grove Park on the West side of Laurelwood. From there we split into three teams to search the area. The Laurelwood collection of stores does not have a central walking route, but it is a connected parking lots north of Poplar between Perkins Extended and Grove Park.

The first team headed directly north from the Panera Bread and examined the stores along Grove Park. They noted the wide doors that were easy to open at Talbots. They also seemed to have well-kept ramps at more than one location around the store. Inside, Talbots was spacious and had and an accessible dressing room.

The first team also noted the welcoming storefront of Frost Bakery. It had a double door, with no center post that can make maneuvering a wheelchair difficult. The team noted that the bakery smell was also very inviting.

The second team headed east. They were most impressed by Ulta Beauty. The store had an accessible counter that was not too high and made the team feel at ease. They had an accessible bathroom and Braille signs.

At LA Fitness the second team was astonished to find many accessible features. They had a unisex restroom and accessible equipment. The staff was welcoming and friendly and showed the team the accessible pool lift and accessible shower.

What the third team found most welcoming was the personal attitude at Hot Yoga. The individual in the store personally welcomed the team and introduced them to the owner. They expressed their belief that Yoga did not leave anyone out and invited the team for a free hot class.

Team three also noted the welcoming and accessible ramps. Many were wide and provided access for the general foot traffic as well as being welcoming to a person with a mobility impairment. The route from the bus stop was clear and accessible. Most notably was the raised concrete accessible routes from the accessible parking spaces. It was clear that the parking at Nordstroms made people with disabilities feel that they were to be included at the store.

Many of the participants noted that it was a lot easier to look for what is wrong. Even as we all looked for examples of accessibility, it was often easy to see what did not meet our expectations. We did not record barriers we found as an exercise in trying to find what works and what we all find welcoming and inclusive. Everyone also made mental notes however, of what places did not seem to have access and the spots that did not seem to be inclusive.