The NFC tags used to access the menus that the Main Menu Project formats. Credit: Courtesy of the Main Menu Project
Those with vision impairments often face challenges when trying to read menus in restaurants, but one Ohio State organization is trying to ensure everyone can have a place at the table.
The Main Menu Project creates free, screen reader-accessible menus for visually impaired individuals to use at restaurants in the Columbus area, according to its website. Though the organization was officially founded in the fall 2023, co-presidents Olivia Kalczynsk, a fourth-year in animal sciences, and Abi Dumm, a fourth-year in health sciences, said they began crafting the idea during their first year on campus.
“Olivia and I recognized a gap in our community for visually accessible menus in restaurants and wanted to find a low-cost solution that we’d be able to implement,” Dumm said.
The organization works with various Columbus partners — including Adriatico’s, Emmett’s Cage, Stauf’s Coffee Roaster and Kafe Kerouac — by obtaining their menus and creating a digital version with fonts and formatting that cater to those with visual impairments, said Madeline Price, a fourth-year in biochemistry and French, as well as the club’s treasurer.
Although this process might seem straightforward on the surface, Price said the club faces certain barriers when it comes to simply getting each restaurant’s approval.
“It’s kind of surprising how hard it can be to get into the restaurants,” Price said. “Restaurants have menu changes, or say, ‘Our menu is so large, how can you type it up?’ Even getting in contact with the manager can be difficult.”
Despite these roadblocks, Dumm said the group remains committed to providing its services and normalizing greater accessibility in everyday life.
“There are so many small things that you take for granted that are still not accessible for everyone,” Dumm said. “Being able to go to a restaurant and order independently is a luxury that not everybody has.”
After reformatting the menu as a digital copy, Price said the group will create a small card with a QR code that links to the edited menu. Also, they develop a Near Field Communication tag — a small electronic device that stores data — to embed into the card.
Price said the tags allow visually impaired individuals who may not be able to see or scan the QR code to hold their device near the tag-embedded card so their device can access the menu that way — similar to the tap-to-pay process many restaurants have adopted.
“Under the QR code with our menu, you’ll see our logo — a fork and circle — and the tag is hidden underneath there.” Price said. “You know how some stores tap your credit card to pay? It’s similar to that, allowing customers to access it.”
Though many restaurants have websites that include their menus, there are oftentimes distracting fonts and pictures that might be difficult for screen-readers to comprehend and present; therefore, Price said the group focuses on creating menus that are more clearly formatted and accessible.
The group has seen early success and recognition, even taking home the Outstanding New Student Organization Award at the 2024 Student Life Leadership Awards, according to its website.
In addition, Price said the group has made an active effort to work and volunteer in the blind and visually impaired community — whether that means judging the Ohio State School for the Blind’s science fair, handing out candy at a trunk-or-treat event and/or spreading awareness at local conferences.
“We can work with those individuals and build relationships with the individuals we’re trying to help so that we can listen to their feedback and we’re not just operating in a vacuum,” Price said.
Accessible options for everyone are often a luxury for many individuals, but the first step towards making accessibility the new normal doesn’t have to be a huge one — Dumm said it can start right here on Ohio State’s campus.
“Accessibility solutions do not always have to be expensive or fancy, but they need to be user-oriented,” Dumm said. “Even college students can make a difference with the skills they have, once they recognize the areas that need to be changed.”
Currently, the Main Menu Project has open applications and meets every other Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Ohio Union. For more information about the group and its upcoming events, students can visit its Instagram account.
