IAS recognizes inclusive eateries in the city

Sixty-one catering establishments in Macau have been recognized for their efforts to create welcoming and accessible environments for people with disabilities.

The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), together with eight government departments, 22 non-governmental organizations, and one school, collaborated to roll out the Disability-Friendly Restaurant Recognition Scheme.

The initiative, launched in honor of the upcoming International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, aims to highlight and encourage local dining venues to cater to the needs of people with visual, hearing, speech, physical, and mental disabilities.

IAS states that participating establishments were selected through recommendations by local rehabilitation institutions, self-nominations, and voting by representatives from the four disability categories provided.

These categories were listed as: “friendly hospitality, suitable seating, ordering assistance, and accessible facilities.”

During his opening remarks at yesterday’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration, Wilson Hon, IAS president, underscored the Macau SAR government’s continued dedication to supporting people with disabilities and their families.

He emphasized that residents aged 65 or older now account for 14.6% of Macau’s population, and nearly 60% of those registered with disability-assessment certificates are in this age group.

Hon also stressed the growing importance of accessibility in the face of a rapidly aging population and remarked that the selected inclusive venues under the scheme serve as a standard for other service industries in Macau. NS