There was ample room between the tables and booths for moving around, although because this was a weekday night it was not at crowded as it might have been. Other nights might have seen more difficulty in maneuvering through the restaurant.
The bathroom was not huge but looked roomy enough to allow for wheelchair access, although the handicap bathroom stall was at the very back of the room, which I though would be rather annoying to get to in a wheelchair.
The walkways throughout the restaurant were very wide.
After we left the restaurant, we went to a movie theater to see a horror movie. There were plenty of handicap spaces in the parking lot and a nice little crosswalk connecting the handicap area with one of the ramps into the theater.
Inside, the theater lobby was very large and spacious, with very little obstacles of any sort. I've seen some theaters where all kinds of stuff is put on the floor between the door and the concession stand, like cardboard cutouts and ATMs but this theater was nice and open.
The restroom was large and easy to get around. While there was not a lowered handicap-specific sink, there was a mirror that was angled down in the middle that probably served as the handicap sink, and once again the handicap stall was at the very back of the bathroom.
Walking into the theater, there was a ramp leading up to the seats.
This theater had almost an entire row dedicated to handicap seating, which I thought was nice. There were stairs in the back of the theater leading to the stadium-style seating but no steps were necessary to get to these handicap spots.
After the movie, we decided to head back to my house, where the driveway is an absolute nightmare to get up and down, regardless of disability. It is very steep and definitely not handicap friendly.
The front door also has a step up, so it is not extremely accessible either.
Inside the house it is a little better. The main level has no steps to get to either bathroom or kitchen, and it has a master bedroom as well, so the first floor would be fairly accessible.
The hallway leading to the garage and half-bathroom is fairly wide, but the bathroom itself is not very convenient for someone in a wheelchair as it is very small and cramped.
The master bathroom is much larger, with plenty of space for a wheelchair.
The kitchen is also large and open, with no islands blocking the space.
Accessibility:
While the restaurant and theater had a good setup for handicaps, the house would need some changes to address accessibility concerns. Some things cannot be changed, such as the enormous hill it is built into, and the backyard is virtually impossible to get to without using steps. One could easily live on just the first floor of the house, but there's still the issue of getting to the mailbox and putting a ramp in from the front door and garage.
Activity:
A weekend would have made the restaurant and movie theater busier, so the perceived amount of activity would increase at those times. My date was on a weekday so it was fairly quiet. The house is a private residence only two people and a dog live in, so it is usually lacking in intensity as well.
Adaptability:
The house is the only location that seemed to need any modifications, or where any modifications would happen. An elevator would be necessary to access all parts of the house, including the basements and the backyard, and ramps would need to be added to the front door and garage.
Control:
As the restaurant and theater are public spaces, there is little control over the organization and territory. Some people may have favorite places to sit when at the restaurant or theater, but that does not make it their space. The restaurant could feasibly rearrange tables and chairs to fit larger groups of people together, but the theater is not so pliable. Personalization is more possible with the house, as it is a privately owned property and can be painted and decorated with whatever furnishings the owner wants to use.
Crowding:
Crowding could be a problem for the restaurant and theater during a busy evening or weekend. Opening weekends are prone to long lines and crowds of people in the theater, and some restaurants are packed with people for special events or for sporting event viewings. Crowding could be a problem in the house if many people are over for a party, but that is wholly dependent on the owner's choices.
Legibility:
The restaurant was not extremely well laid out, and I had to ask where the restroom was. The movie theater was more organized, with restrooms and concessions well mapped out. The house has some oddly placed rooms, such as the tiny half-bath downstairs, but overall the layout makes sense for one used to homes in the U.S.
Privacy:
The only places that really allowed privacy in the restaurant I went to were seats in the booths, as the tables were all in the middle of the room with people walking in all directions around them. But the booths are not as handicap-friendly as they are immovable and would not accommodate a wheelchair. The theater is only private if you are able to get seats without anyone nearby, but in a theater you are not really encouraged to have a conversation anyway so privacy isn't a huge issue there. The house is very private, as it is a privately owned residence and is not too close to neighbors.
Sociality:
Socializing is encouraged in most restaurants, with people sitting rather close together at their table, facing each other, although people do not usually socialize with other tables. Movie theaters are not really meant for socializing, as you are expected to keep your seat and refrain from talking during a movie. Houses can be great for parties, and this house is very open on the inside, allowing much room for people to congregate. The downside is the lack of parking at the house, where you cannot park on the street and there is limited driveway space.
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