Chapters, Success Stories
Accessibility Advocate Tina Pedersen
Jan 1, 2023
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There are many ways to educate an inaccessible business about accessibility, but no one does it quite like Tina Pedersen of Harrisville, Rhode Island. If a business complains about the cost of renovations, she comes back with positive and practical solutions: contractors, tax breaks and a smile.
RAMPing Up
If Tina Pedersen can’t get into your restaurant with her wheelchair, don’t worry. She’ll pull her own folding table out of her van, set up right in front of your establishment and ask to see a menu.
“It ends up being a comical thing at first, but eventually the business owner starts asking, ‘How do I get you into my restaurant so you can dine with us in all seasons?’ So I’m always finding a way to open the conversation and bring it around to a positive,” says Pedersen, 50.
By positive, she means a noncombative approach that educates the business owner as to how their business is inaccessible, rather than blaming them for that [...]