Accessible Advertising?
Posted: January 16, 2012 Filed under: Accessibility, Thoughts | Tags: Accessible, Advertising, Man Show, Radio Leave a commentAre the way products advertised create an accessibility issue?
I started thinking about this over the weekend. I personally don’t have a TV or Radio because I am tired of commercials telling me I am not good enough… I should be thinner, richer and more beautiful. Lately I have been listening to the radio in the car out of curiosity of what is the latest pop song craze. This weekend I happen to hear an advertisement for the ‘Man’s Show’ that is coming to my area. I was appalled at what it was telling me. It stated that women have had their shows and now it is time for a man’s show… Motorcycles, cars, video games, beer and sports people. I couldn’t figure out which of these things are only for men… I ride a Harley Davidson FLHT, drink beer, love college football and have been addicted to my share of video games. After hearing this commercial more than once (I wanted to be sure I wasn’t hearing it wrong) I wrote an email to the station:
I think advertising for the Man’s Show that is coming to our area is inappropriate. I’m honestly surprised a show like that is even welcome in this area.
1. It is advertising Gender rules… all men like motorcycles, beer, video games and cars?…. women don’t?
2. It feels very homophobic because of advertising these above gender rules
3. There is no women’s show but the advertisement makes it sound like there is.
4. It is insulting to women because it makes it sound as if women make men do ‘feminine’ things and that all women only like so called ‘feminine’ things.
5. Just a FYI: decorating, craft and home shows are not ‘women’ shows… in case that is the assumption with this advertisement.
6. it is creating a line between the sexes that is not necessary. We are in the 21st century and there are many people (men and women) who cross these ‘gender lines’.
It is time we take a stand on advertisements. No one should be singled out, left behind or treated differently. It starts with stations like you who choose not to use advertisements that suggest segregation. (color, gender, size, sexual orientation, religion, etc) Make them sell the product not the people who use the product.
This afternoon I received an email response:
thank you for taking the time to write and listen. Greatly appreciated. I have also copied our Program Director on your comments.
Tonight I heard an advertisement for the Man’s Show and it just stated the facts… when, where and how to participate…. can’t help but think maybe I had something to do with that?
Change starts by letting people know what you think. We all should be writing letters to our local stations requesting advertisements of the products instead of advertising the people who use the products.
Walgreens
Posted: January 15, 2012 Filed under: Accessibility, Places | Tags: Accessible, Policies, Walgreens Leave a comment
Walgreens Store... Accessible?
From the outside it seems that Walgreens would be accessible… as a huge corporation with stores all over the country I wondered what are their policies on accessibility.
There is no disability claim on the door like I saw on the Jo-Ann Fabrics store. I did not see any other signs telling me how they are accessible.
So I asked the cashier when I checked out.
She told me that they try to be as helpful as possible. I asked if there was any sort of accessibility training… she states the training tries to cover as much as possible but if I had more questions I might get better answers with the manager.
So of course I talked to the manager on duty. I asked: What does Walgreens do for accessibility?
The manager asked me what I meant. He didn’t understand the question and as I told him accessibility for all abilities he started to get a little nervous. He stated he tries to be as helpful as possible and does not discriminate because of gender, race, disability… etc… like what you read on your job application. I asked if Walgreens had any policies on accessibility. He did not know of any.
Questions I still have
If your employees do not know of the accessibility policies… are you accessible?
Does just the parking spot in front and automatic doors make a place accessible?
Should large corporations be made to be ‘completely accessible’? what is ‘complete accessibility’?
In a world that is not accessible should it be assumed that people know certain places are accessible?
How should these businesses let us know they are accessible and how they are accessible?
Will there be a time where there is more accessibility than not accessible that we can assume a place is accessible to all?
Jo-Ann Fabrics ‘Accessibility’
Posted: January 14, 2012 Filed under: Accessibility, Places | Tags: Accessible, Jo-Ann Fabrics Leave a comment
Jo-Ann Fabrics' Accessibility Logo
When going into Jo-Ann Fabrics I saw this logo on the door. It has the ‘handicap’ logo and states next to the logo. ‘It is the policy of Jo-Ann Stores Inc. to make the stores accessible to persons with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability and you need assistance to access our store please make your needs know to any employee.” (the ‘no pets’ logo states underneath service animals welcome)
First off I thought it was quite interesting that the doors were not automatic and I even had a hard time opening them. So how is one suppose to ask for assistance if you can’t even get into the store?
The store in general is very crowded… I would imagine it would be hard for anyone with movement issues or in a wheelchair to access all of the store.
The most interesting and refreshing thing about my Jo-Ann Fabrics visit was the employee I spoke with. I asked about the sign on the door and how this store is accessible. She very plainly said ‘I don’t think it is’.
It just so happened this employee has worked with people with special needs and understood how difficult it is to get in and out of some stores and buildings. She said she thinks about accessibility often and wonders how things are going to change to make things more accessible. She also stated how the front door to the store is a very difficult door and she has seen people get their fingers stuck because the door is so heavy. She also told me that they are going to be remodeling soon and hopes these issues are addressed. She was definitely going to look into it and let me know the next time I stop by.
I left with a big smile and thanked her for being aware. It is people like her that can make a difference. If she shares her awareness things can change for that store and even the corporation itself.
Great to know I am not alone in the questions of accessibility.
Hopefully once someone with a physical disability can get into the store we can look at other accessibility needs.
McDonalds Drive Thru
Posted: January 14, 2012 Filed under: Accessibility, Places | Tags: Accessible, Drive Thru, McDonalds Leave a comment
McDonald's Drive Thru Window
I have been quite curious recently what this sign means in the McDonalds Drive Thru Window. It says “Hearing/Speech Impaired Assistance Available At This Window”
So today while going thru the drive thru I asked.
The teenager at the window had no idea. Lucky for me there was a manager right there he could ask.
Of course when he did ask the manager responded “why, do you need it?” So I explained I was doing research on accessibility and the manager told me they use a picture menu or give them a pen and paper to write down their order.
I was actually impressed they had anything at all. Unfortunately I went at a very busy time and could not ask as many questions as I wanted… so I will be going back and updating this post with what I find out.
What are some of the issues with this situation?
1. The person working the window had no idea of the accessibility options.
2. This picture menu did not seem to be in the window area. (I am definitely going back to see this picture menu.)
3. I did not see a sign on the menu/ordering station that said ‘pull up to window for Hearing/Speech Assistance.’ (I will look closer to see if I might have missed it)
4. You had to ask for accessibility
Other things I think the drive thru could use
1. An option for a touch screen order device… (who can ever understand what those people are saying thru those speakers?) but also leave the option to speak with someone.
2. Easy read menus. (I don’t think I am the only one who can’t find what I am looking for on those menus in the drive thru)
3. The screen with the list of your order and price needs to have pictures along with text for the items you ordered.
Assumptions made with the drive thru:
1. everyone can read
2. everyone reads the same
3. everyone has been thru a McDonalds drive thru and understands the process and knows about the ‘accessibility’ options.
Those are my thoughts for now on the accessibility of the McDonalds Drive Thru.
R U Accessible 