McDonalds Drive Thru

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.