Help Us Build CIAC
We’re building more than a website—we’re building the Cape & Islands Accessibility Collaborative. We’re committed to making this site as accessible as the communities we’re working to create. Professional accessibility design and development is estimated at $2,500–$6,000. We’re seeking volunteers, donated professional services, and financial support to help complete this work. If you believe in a more accessible Cape & Islands, we’d love your help.
Why Accessible Menus Matter
Many customers cannot comfortably read standard printed menus due to blindness, low vision, or other print disabilities. These guests often rely on built-in smartphone accessibility features—such as screen readers, large text, high contrast, and magnification—to navigate the world. Accessible digital menus empower guests to use their own tools to browse independently and privately, ensuring a welcoming experience for everyone. While digital accessibility is key, large-print menus remain a vital resource and should always be available as a complementary option for inclusive hospitality.
Why NFC Makes Accessibility Easier
While QR codes are common, they present challenges for people with visual impairments. Searching for a code on a table and aiming a camera accurately can be difficult or impossible for many guests.
NFC (Near Field Communication) tags solve this. Customers simply tap their phone against a designated spot, and your menu opens automatically—no searching or aiming required. It’s faster, easier, and more inclusive.
The best part? You don’t have to choose. Businesses can include a QR code on the same tap-card, ensuring that every customer can access your menu using the technology that works best for them. If you don't use QR codes, you can use discrete stickers. We are happy to explore what options are best for your restaurant.
Partner Benefits
Grow Your Community
Help more people enjoy your restaurant independently, including guests who are blind, have low vision, have print disabilities, or simply find printed menus difficult or impossible to read.
Easy to Add
Getting started is simple. NFC tags are inexpensive and can be added to a tabletop sign, menu holder, acrylic stand, or even a small sticker. No expensive equipment or complicated technology required.
Simple to Maintain
When your menu changes, simply update the webpage it links to. The NFC tag stays the same, making it an easy, low-maintenance solution.
Better Than a QR Code Alone
QR codes work well for many people, but they can be difficult for someone with low vision to locate and scan. An NFC tag opens the menu with a simple tap, making access faster and easier. Using both NFC and a QR code provides the best experience for everyone.
We Make It Easy
CIAC can help you set everything up, provide the NFC stickers, and answer your questions. Our goal is to make accessibility simple—not create more work for your staff.
Become an Accessible Menu Partner
Participating restaurants will be recognized by CIAC as Accessible Menu Partners and featured on our website and through community outreach, helping residents and visitors discover businesses that make dining more welcoming for everyone.
CIAC Can Help Your Restaurant
- The Cape & Islands Accessibility Collaborative is here to support local businesses in making their dining experience more inclusive. Our collaborative approach ensures you have the tools and knowledge to welcome every guest with confidence.
- Providing customized NFC table cards or discrete stickers for your business.
- Support connecting the technology to your existing online menu seamlessly.
- Offering ongoing accessibility guidance and hospitality best practices.
- Recognizing participating businesses as official Accessible Menu Partners.
01
Setup
CIAC helps your restaurant set up an accessible digital menu., if you don't have one.
How It Works
A simple, four-step process to make dining more inclusive for everyone.
02
NFC Tag
CIAC provides a NFC tag, and help connecting accessible menus.
03
Tap Phone
Customers simply tap their phone to the tag to open the link.
04
Explore
The menu opens automatically using the guest's own settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NFC?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It allows devices within a few centimeters of each other to exchange data. In a restaurant, a customer just taps their phone on a table tag, and the menu opens instantly.
Do customers need a special app?
No special app is required. Most modern smartphones have NFC reading capabilities built-in, similar to using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Can we use our current online menu?
Yes. The NFC tag can be programmed to point directly to your existing digital menu URL. We can also provide guidance on making that digital menu even more accessible.
Should we still offer large-print menus?
Absolutely. Accessibility is about choice. While many people prefer digital tools, large-print physical menus are still an essential part of an inclusive guest experience.
Is this difficult to set up?
The process is very straightforward. Once you provide your menu link, we assist programing the tags and provide the NFC stickers.
Does CIAC help us get started?
Yes, we are here to collaborate. CIAC provides the hardware, helps with the connection, and offers long-term guidance on accessibility best practices for your business.