Help Cincinnati Be More Welcoming!

Published August 25, 2016

Kathleen Cail and Nestor Melnyk need your help in making our downtown and Over-the-Rhine a more livable, welcoming community for everyone. If you live, work or frequent that area, this volunteer opportunity will only be a few hours commitment but will have a very important impact not only to the vibrancy of the region, but also to those who want to enjoy time together.

Kathleen and Nestor received a grant from People’s Liberty for their project, called Access Cincinnati. The goal is to create an online resource providing accessibility information on restaurants and bars to families with strollers, veterans, seniors, and individuals with mobility issues. Having that information easily available will allow people to make decisions where they will be spending time and spending money enjoying our great city.

There are over 250 establishments to survey, which is how you can help!

Their ACCESS Cincinnati Launch Party is Tuesday, August 31, 2016, at 6pm, at People’s Liberty, 1805 Elm St. (on the corner of W. Elder, across from Findley Market). There you will learn more, meet other great people, receive your ACCESS Cincinnati cards and a list of 4 to 6 establishments to survey.

Can’t make the Launch Party? You can still volunteer! Just register here.

What you need to know (provided by Kathleen):

Q: How long will the survey take do complete?
A: Probably 10 minutes maximum. There are only about 12 questions/observations which you will be asked to answer/make, for each bar/restaurant on your list. Every question is multiple choice.

Q: Do I have to eat or drink in these places?
A: No. Only if you want to. Some places you can just walk right in. Others will have a Host/Hostess and you can just let them know who you are and what you are doing. DCI & OTR Chamber have been informed of this and should have informed their members.

Q: Where will this information be stored?
A: We will post this on our mobile website, accesscincinnati.org (which is under construction now).

Q: Are we the accessibility police?
A: No. There are no accessibility police. We are looking at whether a place is visitable? Is there a level entrance (including a stepped entrance where a portable ramp is provided), are there accessible bathrooms, and can I move around easily inside the venue? No tape measures needed!

Q: What if I can’t make the Launch Party, but still want to complete the surveys, what do I do?
A: Call or email me and I will provide you everything you need. 513.604.2070, kcail@mac.com