Senior Column from Executive Director Sue Ritz
I have been in Atlanta, Georgia, for the National Rural Electric Convention. Since we are staying in a hotel in downtown Atlanta, we have had to go out to eat. Last night a light bulb went off. I’ve thought about this a number of times, but last night made a real impact on me. We went to Pitty Pat’s Porch—a real southern home cooking restaurant with good food. My complaint (not generated totally to this place) is the menu. The words are written in an extremely small font. OK, you say. Sue you are just getting old and need glasses. I actually wear contacts so that is not the problem. Really, the menu was only 1 page double sided so maybe they were trying to save paper. I am all for saving the environment, but I just waited for the waiter to tell me what the specials were. Then I ordered what was recommended by friends—famous fried chicken.
As we get older many of our senses change. We may not be able to have the same agility in our fingers, or as keen a sense of smell or hearing, but also we need to remember our eyesight. Perhaps the people who print the menus also need to be thoughtful.
Cities are working on cross walks and making the walk sign longer for mobility of people crossing streets. We’re working on making streets more elder friendly. We’re including bike lanes, sidewalks, and car pool lanes on our streets and highways. So next, let’s also think about our restaurant menus. It doesn’t have to be 14 font, but 6 or 8 is way too small.
The next time I go to a restaurant I will definitely say something about the menu—suggest they use larger font or compliment them on their concern for being able to read what is offered.