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EOC releases Practical Guide on Universal Design for Catering Services
On 30 October 2023, the EOC held a press conference to announce the release of a Practical Guide on University Design for Catering Services. The toolkit aims to offer an easy-to-read practical guide for the catering industry on serving diners with diverse needs and highlights important considerations for providing accommodations.
“Universal Design” means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaption or specialised design. Creating an accessible dining environment would benefit not only persons with disabilities (PWDs), but also the elderly, pregnant women and families with baby prams. Previous studies have shown that over 70% of the sampled restaurants failed to meet the accessibility requirements. Common problems include wheelchair-inaccessible entrances, fixed seats that are not wheelchair-friendly, narrow aisles, and dark lighting for individuals with low vision.
In light of these issues, the EOC has created this toolkit, which provides a summary of practical guides and tips for catering service providers to create a more accessible dining environment. The content structure of the Practical Guide follows the typical food journey of diners, from entering the restaurant to placing orders and dining, highlighting the statutory accessibility requirements and the accommodation measures that can be provided for diners with special needs.
EOC Chairperson Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin expressed gratitude to all the organisations and individuals for providing assistance and valuable opinions to the Practical Guide. “We are facing a rapidly-aging population in Hong Kong. The EOC hopes to promote the concept of ‘universal design’ through this Practical Guide, thereby establishing an accessible and barrier-free society. Unlike accessible design, which involves modification to remove or replace tangible barriers, the concept of ‘universal design’ focuses on creating products, services and environmental designs that require no adjustments or modifications, allowing everyone regardless of age, ability, or disability, to use them,” he said.
It is important to note that universal or accessible designs do not necessarily mean complicated renovation. In some cases, simple no-cost or low-cost modifications can effectively enhance accessibility. The Practical Guide includes an accessibility checklist so that catering service providers can enhance their services and attract a wider range of customers.
Further initiatives by the EOC to promote universal design are in the pipeline, including the launch of the first-ever Universal Design Award Scheme early next year, which will give recognition to companies or organisations that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in creating accessible environments and adopting universal design principles. Details can be found on the EOC website.
