The Greene Turtle is taking the initiative to better accommodate the needs of their guests and members of the community with some new, positive changes.

The popular Maryland-based sports bar and grille franchise will now provide braille menus to cater to those with visual impairments and those that are blind, as well as to be more in tune with the ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliance.

Each participating location will carry three food braille menus with large print and three bar braille menus with large print, all updated with the restaurant’s new fall menu. The menus are sourced from American Printing House (APH), the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. A photo of the new braille menu is attached.

In addition, in an effort to be more environmentally conscious and do their part in reducing plastic waste in our oceans and landfills, The Greene Turtle has joined the popular #skipthestrawmovement. In an announcement made earlier this year, the restaurant chain announced it will no longer carry plastic straws and will only offer paper straws upon request.

According to the World Economic Forum, a newly published study estimates that around eight million metric tons of our plastic waste enter the oceans from land each year. The Greene turtle hopes that this initiative will help protect their beloved mascot, the sea turtle, and other marine life against unnecessary plastic pollution.