For many of us, eating out at a restaurant is a treat that saves us on the dishes and helps us to socialize. But, for families with neurodivergent children, even quick meals out are often far from joyful.
And it’s hardly surprising when you consider that, unique dietary requirements alone, children who are prone to sensory overwhelm can quickly start to struggle in an environment that’s notoriously loud, crowded, and also out of their control.
But, there is a world in which neurodivergent children can enjoy eating out as much as anyone else, and parents are increasingly crying out for restaurants to help make that a possibility. As is proven by autism-friendly restaurants like Wheated, there are plenty of things restaurants can do to cater to their neurodivergent guests a little better. Here, we’re going to consider what those things entail and how restaurants can implement them successfully.
# 1 – Turn That Music Down
Some restaurants have music so loud that most diners leave with a headache, but that noise becomes even more of a problem for neurodivergent children. Individuals with autism will especially struggle with loud, blaring music that could increase their risk of overwhelm and distress. Equally, children with ADHD can experience accompanying hypersensitivity that makes loud noises difficult to deal with. By simply turning background music down to an ambient level, restaurants can make eating out a much more appealing experience for everyone. It’s also worth avoiding unnecessarily noisy or disruptive songs in place of gentle, calming music at all times.
# 2 – Staff Training is Key
Inclusive staff training makes a huge difference to families with neurodivergent children, who may require specialist attention such as food types served separately, or a more reserved serving style with fewer interruptions. The better trained teams are, the more easily they’ll be able to handle these requests without complications that can lead to heightened distress, which is best avoided for everyone. Courses like this one from Tayl are a great example of training done right, as they ensure staff members are always fully aware of any additional support required for neurodivergent customers.
# 3 – Implement a Service Card System
Service card systems are becoming increasingly desirable for all types of businesses, and restuarants are now exception. This system involves simply handing a card that customers can place on or off their table depending on whether or not they require service. Whether this system is implemented restaurant-wide or on special request, it can make a huge difference in avoiding the surprise interruptions that could prove distressing for some guests.
# 4 – Dedicate Section-Specific Servers
Neurodivergent guests may struggle with the lack of continuity or certainty that comes from having many different serving staff appear at their table throughout their stay. Not to mention that, when various staff members are handling a single table, unwanted interruptions will inevitably increase. This is an easy problem to overcome by simply ensuring that each server handles tables in a specific area of the restaurant, meaning they’re the only people those customers deal with. As well as making sense from an efficiency point of view, this consistency can be hugely reassuring for neurodivergent families.
# 5 – Make Space for Simplified Payments
Even joyful meals out can be draining for children who are also dealing with sensory processing issues, meaning that those individuals may feel like they’ve just finished a marathon by the time their meal is over. Adding complex payment systems, or systems that require those families to head up to a crowded bar in order to pay, can be an additional strain that ruins an otherwise enjoyable experience. Simplified payments are key to overcoming this, and are something that many restaurants are now getting right with pay-at-order apps. Equally, restaurants can take steps to offer simple, integrated payments at the table, ensuring a fast, easy payment process regardless of whether a family is paying by card, contactless, or other.
Takeaway
Everyone deserves to enjoy eating out in a comfortable, inclusive environment, and restaurants should be doing whatever they can to ensure that’s possible for their neurodivergent clientele. From improving staff awareness to implementing systems that simplify potential problem areas of service such as sensory processing overwhelm, these seemingly small steps can make a huge difference for customer experiences overall. As these moves towards inclusivity become a much-needed norm rather than a standout point of service, restaurants also need to get on top here to stay ahead. So, stop letting your neurodivergent families down – make your restaurant an inclusive place at last using these top tips.