Recently, I was at a busy restaurant by the beach with my support worker. We were sitting at a long dining counter attached to the wall, facing the window so we could enjoy the view.
The counter meant we were sitting side by side, facing the window rather than across a table. Facing the waiter to order can be a little awkward when you’re seated like this, but it is manageable—as long as they position themselves where the customer can make eye contact with them.
When she came over, she stood behind me and to my left. She was close to my support worker, so the two of them could communicate face to face. Meanwhile, I had to turn my head awkwardly away from the view to see and hear her while trying to place my order. She could barely hear what I was saying, let alone understand me. I was trying to ask whether they could use a different type of pasta in the dish I wanted.
I tried to indicate that she needed to move around, but she kept trying to take the order from the same spot. Standing beside me would have let her make eye contact with me and see my AAC device. The seating itself was workable; we just needed her to stand where both of us could communicate with her comfortably.
My support worker had only been supporting me for a few weeks. He was still learning how I communicate and was also struggling to understand what I was saying. He had not yet developed the skills to guide other people in communicating directly with me, so he was trying to navigate the situation while still learning himself.
Taking my order means communicating with me
I use AAC—augmentative and alternative communication. In this situation, that included my communication device and pointing to the menu.
Eventually, I got the waiter to stand beside me so she could communicate with both of us, and I ordered my dinner.
The presence of a support worker does not mean I have nothing to say. Nor does using a communication device mean I cannot place an order or ask a question about the menu.
I was the customer. It would have been nice to be included in the conversation about what I wanted to eat.
This experience did not teach me something new. It highlighted something I already believe: hospitality staff should receive basic training in communicating with someone who uses AAC.
A good starting point would be a simple question: “Where is the best place for me to stand so we can communicate?”
No advanced qualification required. Just a willingness to ask, listen and perhaps move a couple of steps.
More than getting the order through
Once the order was sorted, my support worker and I waited for our meals. The restaurant was very noisy, but using my AAC device, I could still have a decent conversation with him.
One of our topics was how rude I thought the waiter had been. I even left my comment visible on the device so other staff might see it. I had something to say about the service, and I was not particularly concerned about keeping it to myself.
We also talked about the historic sites around the beach. The conversation moved on from the awkward business of ordering dinner to other things we wanted to discuss.
This is an important part of what AAC means to me. It is not just about communicating an order or getting a basic need met. I want to ask questions, express an opinion and have a chat while waiting for my meal.
My support worker was still getting to know me. Being able to talk about what had just happened, and then about the places around us, gave us a chance to do that. Despite the noise, my device helped us have a conversation—not just get through a transaction.
Make room for the conversation
That evening, my AAC device helped me do more than order dinner. It let me ask about the pasta, tell my support worker what I thought of the service and chat about the historic sites around the beach.
None of those conversations was less important because I used a device to have it. And not all of them were about getting something I needed. Sometimes I simply wanted to say what I thought.
That is why I want hospitality staff to have basic training in communicating with people who use AAC. Do not assume we cannot order or ask questions. Talk to us directly. If you are unsure where to stand, ask.
A dash of basic disability awareness and communication training could turn a dry salad intercourse into something much sweeter—a pleasant dining experience where everyone has a place in the conversation.
This post was written with the assistance of AI. The ideas, experiences, critical analysis, and conclusions are entirely my own. AI served as the tool through which I articulated my thoughts more efficiently.
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