For my outing I went to the Fox Theatre for entertainment and to Pappasitos Mexican Restaurant for a meal afterwards. I decided to make my observations from the point of view of what life is like for those who are in a wheelchair. The accessibility at the Fox Theatre as well as the restaurant was not where it would need to be for someone who is in a wheelchair. The theatre is very busy and crowded, people are filing in and going all sorts of different directions. There are not a whole lot of visible signs pointing you to where you may need to go. If this is your first time at the Fox Theatre it could be very confusing. You would definitely need to plan ahead of time and figure out what accommodations they make for people who are in wheelchairs. At Pappasitos for the meal portion of the date, there was not an adequate amount of accessibility either. There is space between some of the main aisles, but being a busy restaurant this would pose a problem in terms of getting around easily and effectively.
The Fox is an old theatre so there are not many options in terms of adaptability. It has been around for a long time and I don’t imagine the space being able to change or reorganize in order to accommodate the needs of those in wheelchairs. They could make some changes, such as designated employees to help with getting around the theater. However, changing the environment to where it would need to be is most likely not an option. At Pappasito's, you could move a chair away from the table in order to fit the wheelchair. However it would need to be in the front and back corner of the restaurant. The tables are incredibly close together and there is no way you could make it anywhere else.
The Fox Theatre definitely has a crowding problem because there are a lot of people in this building at one time. Especially when it is close to the time of the show being started. It was an unpleasant experience for me when it came to getting around and going to the bathroom. Which makes the crowding an even bigger issue for someone who is bound to a wheelchair. At the restaurant, the tables are close together in most of the building. If it is not too busy they could rearrange the space to accommodate a wheelchair.
The theatre is not a place where someone could be very social. It needs to be quiet during show time and especially depending on seating it is hard to hear everything that the actors are saying. However, the restaurant could make for a better option at social interaction. You could interact with the server who brings the chips and salsa, the waiter for your table, and the other people that are around you, considering how close you are together.
Since the tables at the restaurant are fairly close together, I would say that you can’t have a great deal of privacy. It is easy to hear what people at the other tables are saying. The theatre could be a place for some privacy because it is quiet and quaint during show time. The seats are extremely close together so your privacy is a little infringed upon at first until the show starts.
Finding the restrooms at the Fox was a particularly difficult activity. There were not a whole lot of signs leading us anywhere. Unless you knew where to look it made it difficult to find your way, especially because it was so busy. The restrooms that we found were all the way down at the bottom of the theatre after you follow a long set of stairs. I also found a handicapped bathroom stall that was out of order. Although there were other handicapped stalls, this still poses a problem and makes maneuvering in a wheelchair even more difficult. There would also be a hard time getting to the bathroom at Pappasito's. There is one big heavy door that needs to be opened in order to get to the tiny space that is in between the men and women's bathroom. You would definitely need someones help opening this door once you got in the first door. Unless people hold the door for you and help you, this set up makes it incredibly difficult to even use the restroom in the first place.
I would not say that the Fox is a comfortable place for someone who is in a wheelchair to be. I was uncomfortable at times trying to get around and find my way. I felt rushed because of the time and pace of all the other people. If you are in a wheelchair, unless there are special accommodations, it is going to be difficult to be comfortable getting around in such a busy and crowded space. I believe the restaurant space is a little more inviting and comfortable. It is easier to make accommodations in terms of space because you can rearrange tables and chairs.
The way the Fox is set up makes it difficult to have control over your environment. This space does not allow for someone who is bound to a wheelchair to make a claim to personal space. I didn’t see any employees there that were guiding the crowd in an effective and timely manner. It seems like a space that is not focused on the individuals needs but the group as a whole. If you are someone with a disability you need the space to accommodate your personal needs. At Pappasitos there could be some control in this environment because you can rearrange the tables and find an area that works, however this needs to be at a time that it is not very busy.
The handicap restroom stall at the Fox Theatre
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