The main entrance to the Dunkin’ Donuts on K Street. Photo courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts.

The main entrance to the Dunkin’ Donuts on K Street. Photo courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts.

The new flagship D.C. location of Dunkin’ Donuts, the one that is giving away free coffee today, came under fire yesterday for seemingly not being wheelchair accessible.

Located at 1700 K Street NW, the store’s front doors lead to steps, making it impossible for those in wheelchairs to enter that way. Andrew Nacin, the lead developer for WordPress, raised the accessibility question on Twitter then in a blog post:

A few weeks ago, my wife Keri Kae was stunned to see a wheelchair user just holding the door open, unable make it down the stairs and looking hopeless. Someone just as aghast bought him a cup of coffee. She later confirmed with an employee that there was no wheelchair access, not through the main entrance or otherwise. Just thinking about it aggravates me — but I can’t even begin to imagine what this guy felt, and what many after him will feel.

A Dunkin’ Donuts spokeswoman, however, says that the store is wheelchair accessible through the front lobby of the building the store is located in.

“The Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant on K Street is currently wheelchair accessible through the lobby of the building,” Lindsay Harrington, a public relations manager for the doughnut chain, said in an email. “The franchisee will improve the signage to provide better directions to people using wheelchairs. Additionally, the franchisee is exploring opportunities to modify the restaurant to improve access to people at the front door of the restaurant in the future.”

Indeed, as Nacin tweeted today, a sign was posted informing those in wheelchairs to use the lobby and, if needed, ask for assistance from an employee. “But how the hell are you able to ask?” Nacin tweeted.

Once people in wheelchairs enter through the lobby, Nacin reports that they must travel through the kitchen.

According to an Americans with Disabilities Act small business guide, “if the main entrance cannot be made accessible, an alternate accessible entrance can be used. If you have several entrances and only one is accessible, a sign should be posted at the inaccessible entrances directing individuals to the accessible entrance. This entrance must be open whenever other public entrances are open.”

“The path a person with a disability takes to enter and move through your business is called an ‘accessible route,'” the guide continues. “This route, which must be at least three feet wide, must remain accessible and not be blocked by items such as vending or ice machines, newspaper dispensers, furniture, filing cabinets, display racks, or potted plants.”

Calls to the D.C. Office of Disability Rights regarding the current path wheelchairs must take to enter the K Street store were not answered. A representative from D.C. ODR said yesterday that someone from the office would be sent out to the location to examine its accessibility.

Filed Under: doughtnuts, dunkin' donuts, wheelchair accessibility,