The Traveling Wheelchair

240A Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-536-2626
http://www.ciaobella.com/

After leaving the Apple Store in Boston my mom, Ric, Tony and I were looking for a place to eat on Newbury Street. Newbury Street is right around the corner from the Apple Store which is located on Boylston Street and it is where we parked our van. I always love taking a stroll along Newbury Street because it has so many unique boutiques and restaurants, yet sadly many of the places are not wheelchair accessible due to steps. The first restaurant we came upon was Ciao Bella and we noticed it is NOT wheelchair accessible due to steps.

It didn’t really matter for a sign in the window said it is ‘temporarily closed for renovations’. I’m hoping part of their renovations will include a wheelchair lift at the stairway. AmericaGlide and other manufacturers offer these lifts at a reasonable cost; and some are even portable which can easily be set up and then stored away when not in use; allowing businesses to provide safe and convenient access to persons with disabilities. You can view various options @ http://www.ameriglide.com/Vertical-Platform-Lifts.htm.

We were told by a person passing by that Ciao Bella does have accessible outdoor seating for wheelchair customers when the outdoor dining patio is open during the warmer weather; yet there is no access to the inside of the restaurant for customers in wheelchairs.

I give Ciao Bella on Newbury Street ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn any Stars they would need to provide wheelchair access to the restaurant which could easily be done by placing a wheelchair lift at the stairway.