Wheelchair user criticizes inaccessible new restaurant at Bruges hospital: “I can’t reach anything”

Kurt Deklerck went to the renovated restaurant at Bruges’ AZ Sint-Jan hospital after a doctor’s appointment, hoping to buy a drink. From his wheelchair, he could not reach the counter.

The food and drinks were either too high, too far away or stored in refrigerated sections set below the counter. Deklerck said a wide surface around the counters also prevented customers from taking items easily. He argued that the design affects not only wheelchair users, but also older people, people with other disabilities, and blind or visually impaired visitors.

“I’m not targeting anyone. I’m simply asking that more thought be given to the design of a restaurant like this,” Deklerck said. “What use are wide doors and an accessible terrace if you cannot buy anything?”

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I’m not targeting anyone. I’m simply asking that more thought be given to the design of a restaurant like this. What use are wide doors and an accessible terrace if you cannot buy anything?

Deklerck posted photographs of his experience on Facebook on Aug. 29. The post received 307,000 views and was shared more than 300 times, far more attention than he expected.

Pablo Annys, a city alderman and chairman of AZ Sint-Jan, said the hospital had already received several complaints. He invited Deklerck to discuss the issue and said the restaurant renovation still had two phases to go. One possible fix is an island counter at a suitable height. In the meantime, Annys agreed that hospital volunteers could help visitors make purchases.

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This is only the first phase of the restaurant’s renovation. Two more phases will follow. We will look at how we can put this right, for example with an island at a suitable height. All suggestions are welcome.