Where's Lulu is the first pro-disability company of its kind. It's a free online community where people with disabilities can finally obtain accurate, reliable information on accessibility, and provide that information to other users by reviewing their favorite (or least favorite) local businesses. A guide to accessible places and services, Lulu provides an open forum where people can share information on everything from menu readability to bathroom accessibility.
So, Where is Lulu? Lulu is everywhere and everyone.
Lulu is community and awareness. Lulu is progress and unity.
Lulu is the vision and voice of accessibility for all.
The Lulu Mission
We believe strongly that diversity and equality are integral to a healthy, happy society. Our mission is to champion social progress by increasing visibility of the disability community and establishing higher standards of accessibility for businesses and public places in general.
We aim to eliminate the stress and frustrations of trying to find fun, accessible venues, in order to open up more opportunities for people to relax and connect with others who share similar interests.
Lulu's Founders
Best friends Caitlin "Lulu" Wood and Toshio Meronek founded Where's LULU in 2007. Back in 2007, you either had to be "lucky" enough to learn about accessible establishments through word-of-mouth or you had to call places ahead of time in hopes of receiving accurate information (while often getting the wrong information).
Caitlin, a.k.a Lulu, a dirty South transplant and current Portland, OR resident, is a disabled woman, a disability advocate, a foodie, and a drinkie. Caitlin sees Where's Lulu as an opportunity to raise the standards of accessibility in everyday mainstream culture. She's propelled by the fact that, despite being the world's largest minority group, the disabled community continues to face marginalization and barriers at many levels.
As Caitlin recalls, "Many, many nights we found ourselves trying our luck at a new nightspot only to find it marginally accessible. Maybe I could get in the door, but I couldn't use the bathroom (which is a nightmare if you've been drinking PBR all night!)."
Caitlin met Toshio her junior year of college and knew she'd found her platonic soul mate. Together, they embarked on the Where's Lulu journey in order to normalize disability and shine a light on disability culture when most people don't even know that 'disability culture' exists. Caitlin admits, "That's ambitious. But through normalizing disability you erase stigma, which reduces barriers. By reducing barriers, you bring people together. That is the ultimate reason we started Where's Lulu."
Toshio, a San Francisco, CA resident, a writer, an occasional DJ, and a self-proclaimed Cup Noodles connoisseur, sees Where's LULU from another angle. As a disability ally, Toshio understands Where's LULU as a progressive, guiding voice for the conversation around how disability culture interacts with the rest of the American culture. He sees many parallels between how disabled people are treated today and how other minorities have been treated in the past.
Says Toshio, "I don't think it's terribly different from hanging a sign on the door saying, 'No Blacks', 'Women aren't allowed to vote', 'No marriage for Gays', and so on."
Since meeting Caitlin, Toshio has experienced firsthand the difficulties and restrictions that plague the disabled community. All of a sudden, going out and having a beer with a friend was a challenge.
"With Where's Lulu, that's all going to change," he says.
Privacy Policy
We live and breathe by a strict policy stating that we will never, ever sell your information. Any personally identifiable information that you provide us (such as your name and email address) will only be used to send you requested emails about Where’s Lulu.