Texas takes accessibility law seriously, with all buildings and facilities being subject to compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the state government currently working to change these standards for the better. Proposals include new parking requirements, vehicle charging stations, and accommodations in outdoor areas like parks and trails.
Private businesses—including food establishments—are doing their share to comply with state standards, to ensure that all diners can enjoy a pleasant, comfortable meal. In fact, if you take a look at some of the state’s newest dining havens, you will see that they are fully prepared to cater to disabled and non-disabled diners alike.
New Restaurants in Houston
Top new restaurants have demonstrated a solid commitment to accessibility, with large indoor and outdoor spaces, accessible tables, and parking spots. Take a look at Jun, opened by Chef Evelyn García and Henry Lu. Serving a blend of Asian and American cuisine, the restaurant has a gorgeous design that is easily negotiated by wheelchairs and contains a special table design. One side of the table has soft seating the other has chairs that can easily be removed and replaced by wheelchairs. Passerella, an Italian cuisine haven in Houston, is another bastion of seamless accessible design. It is located smack bang at street level, and its interior dining space and ample terrace dining area is wide, with every table being easy to access by people with wheelchairs or guide dogs.
New Restaurants in Dallas
Dallas is also home to a plethora of new accessible establishments, including the Ramble Room, which has an enormous, curved bar with stools that can easily be set aside to accommodate wheelchairs. Quarter Acre, serving ultra-creative dishes inspired by Chef Toby Archibald’s world travels and New Zealand roots, also combine style and accessibility to perfection. Some of its tables combine curved, plush seating with free seating at the other end. The outer space can be occupied just as easily by chairs as it can by wheelchairs, with the tables providing the appropriate height for comfort.
Getting There
Texas is evolving continually when it comes to accessibility. One area in which it has hit its target is of the public transportation system, which is almost fully accessible. Cities like Houston and Dallas are home to fully wheelchair-accessible light rail trains, city buses, streetcars, commuter rails, and more. Transport is one of the pillars of accessibility since it enables residents and visitors to travel for a small price. It is well known that the amount of disability benefits varies from state to state, since each has a different cost of living. Texas is 18th on the list of states where disability goes the farthest, which is owing in no small part to the small cost of public transport.
If You’re in Town for a Few Days
If you are a tourist in Texas, then you will have no trouble finding a suitable place to stay. Texas is home to a host of different accommodation types, including motels, hotels, and luxury resorts. Most renowned establishments have accessible guest rooms, cutting-edge reservation systems that permit people with disabilities to independently assess if a room meets their accessibility needs, and programs that allow for required modifications to be affected.
Typical accessibility features that abound include 32-inch wide openings to common areas, accessibility equipment for the deaf, access to all areas via wheelchair, accessible registration check-in counters, corridors with a minimum width of 36 inches, and more.
Texas is making strides in accessibility with evolving standards and proposals for better accommodations. While it aims to join the top-ranking states, it already boasts accessible transport, accommodations, and attractions. Enjoy wheelchair-friendly public transportation, inclusive hotels, and a plethora of accessible spots like museums, parks, and historic sites. Explore Texas with inclusivity in mind.
