Club lets eatery patrons read easier

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Merrimack Lions Club member Frank DiChiara, left, and club president Alan Hoye check out large-print menus at a local restuarant. The club, which focuses on helping the visually and hearing impaired, helped convert menus from 10 restaurants into large-print and Braille formats. Photo by Sandra Hurd.

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MERRIMACK – Some restaurants in town are now better prepared to serve visually impaired customers, thanks to the efforts of a civic group.

The Merrimack Lions Club, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, has spearheaded a project to provide large-print and Braille menus at 10 restaurants in Merrimack.

The club, which carried out a similar effort about 10 years ago, began approaching restaurants a few months back, said Frank DiChiara, a member of the Lions Club. Members offered to take a copy of a menu and reprint versions with larger lettering and Braille – at no cost to the restaurants.

The club set aside $600 for the project, which covered printing and conversion costs, plus plaques for restaurant owners to hang that announce the service, DiChiara said.

The menu project aligns with one of the core values of the Lions Club, which is to support eyesight and hearing issues.

“It’s natural for us to be involved in this,” DiChiara said, adding that the intent is to “start a little wildfire” in hopes the idea will take off in other communities. DiChiara said the Bedford Lions Club has expressed interest in replicating the project.

The following establishments now have large-print and Braille menus available:

•Amigos Mexican Cantina.

•Buckley’s Great Steaks.

•DW Pizzeria Family Restaurant.

•Florence’s Italian Restaurant.

•Giorgios.

•Jade Dragon Restaurant.

•Lobster Boat Restaurant.

•Mr. G’s Pizza Restaurant.

•Pizzico of Merrimack and Martini Bar.

•Silver Maple Chinese Restaurant.

•South Garden Restaurant.

•Tortilla Flat.

Sit-down restaurants interested in this service can contact DiChiara at 860-5877.

Karen Lovett can be reached at 594-6402 or klovett@nashua telegraph.com.