Beirut restaurant launches braille menu for the visually impaired

Casper & Gambini's Beirut branch worked with the Lebanese Society of the Blind and Deaf (LSBD) to create the menu, which it hopes will allow all customers to make orders independently.

The braille menu was initially launched in Casper & Gambini in Egypt, where it proved a hit with many.

The restaurant told The New Arab the move has received a positive response. 

"It is extremely rewarding seeing everyone get behind this initiative, and how this simple goal of complete inclusion brought the entire online community together," said Rina Moussa, marketing manager at Casper & Gambini.

"The Braille Menu was first launched in Casper & Gambini's Egypt, in collaboration with the esteemed NGO, Helm, in the efforts to improve the dining experience for persons with disabilities," Moussa told The New Arab.

"We're very excited to work with them again very soon on many other projects to take even further steps into making our restaurants accessible for all."

The restaurant said it seeks to promote full integration of all members of the community, particularly those who may be overlooked due to their disabilities.

The franchise hopes to see all its branches in the Middle East take part in the initiative.

"We hope all of our branches across the region [participate], and all the restaurants in the industry contribute as well."

In 2010, Beirut-based Cafe Younes released the city's first ever braille menu to raise awareness about accessibility to the physically impaired.

Braille is a writing system that uses raised dots to signify letters that are then felt with the fingers to make up words. 

It was developed in the 19th century by Frenchman Louise Braille who lost his eyesight in an accident when he was a child.