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Playbook for Accessible Gaming Events Guideline 104: Catering

  • Artículo

The appearance of food and beverages at events is commonplace. Whether something as simple as self-serve beverages or as detailed is a 7-course meal, ensuring that your food and beverage options are accessible will ensure everyone is able to enjoy them and the socialization that often accompanies eating with others.

Scoping questions

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, this guideline applies to your event:

  • Aside from water fountains, will any beverages be available at your event?

  • Will any food be available at your event?

Implementation guidelines

Consider implementing the following guidelines for your event.

Food

  • Dietary Restrictions / Requirements

    • Ask for dietary restrictions / requirements at the time of registration and ensure food options are available that meet them.

    • Go through each dietary request with catering as early as possible and find ways to ensure there are a few different options available, and that no cross-contamination will occur between food.

    • If providing pre-packaged or pre-ordered meals (e.g., giving people options to choose steak or fish for their main course), ensure there are a few extras of any specialty meals requested in case something happens to one or more of them.

    • For those with severe food allergies, keep food separated from one another as much as possible.

  • Menus

    • If serving from a buffet, it is helpful to have a menu at the start of the line to let guests know what foods will be available.

    • Menus and food labels should be created with large, high contrast (7:1 contrast ratio) text on surfaces without glare.

  • Utensils

    • Provide a variety of utensils for people to choose from for food, even if a specific type of food would normally not call for it. This could be spoons for loose nuts / trail mix, or forks and knives for sandwiches.

    • If chopsticks are the primary utensil planned, ensure forks are also available.

    • For those with severe food allergies, provide dedicated serving utensils for each type of food.

Beverages

  • Straws

    • Ensure plastic straws are available for beverages, ideally those that have tops that can be bent at an angle, as these are most accessible for people with disabilities. (Events looking to be eco-friendly can offer a choice of straws, including those that are biodegradable.)

  • Openers

    • Provide soda can tab openers if cans of soda or other similar beverages are provided.

    • Provide both mounted (to a hard, secure surface) and loose bottle openers for beverages in bottles. Consider providing large, easy to grasp openers whenever possible.

    • If possible, have a staff member available to open beverages, place straws, and place beverages on wheelchair tables when necessary.

Layout

  • Grouping and Consistency

    • For multi-day events, keep food laid out in a similar fashion and location each day.

    • Keep food and beverages grouped. As an example, keep sodas grouped by flavors on tables. As another example, keep the main course options grouped together in a buffet line.

  • Self-Service

    • Ensure tables serving food / beverages can be rolled up to and under by a wheelchair but not too high (no more than 36 inches tall).

    • Food / beverages should not be placed higher than 48 inches from the ground.

    • People should not have to reach more than 20 inches to get to food / beverages.

    • If alcohol is served, non-alcoholic beverages should be made available as well.

Resources and tools

Article | Food Service: Accommodating Diners with Disabilities | adata.org