Reimagine Accessible Grocery Shopping

Accessibility in everyday spaces is often overlooked until someone encounters a barrier firsthand. For many, grocery shopping is a simple routine. But for wheelchair users and individuals who can’t reach high shelves, it can be an exercise in frustration. Three occupational therapy students at the University of Toronto—Laiba, Mataasala, and Aaliyah —together with Vibrant Community Council Co-Chairs Anu and Jen, recently took on this challenge, developing a design project aimed at making grocery stores more inclusive.

Identifying the Problem

The students began by examining how grocery store layouts and shelving systems create barriers for people with different physical abilities. High shelves, in particular, pose challenges not only for wheelchair users but also for anyone who cannot comfortably reach elevated items. This observation framed the central problem: traditional store designs are not universally accessible.

Research Through Experience

To better understand the issue, the group conducted multiple forms of research. This included:

• Interviewing people with lived experience to hear directly about the barriers they face in grocery shopping.

• Environmental analysis of grocery store layouts and shelving design.

• Biomechanical and task analysis to break down the physical demands of reaching, grasping, and lifting items from different shelf heights.

They also visited a grocery store and navigated the aisles using a wheelchair. This immersive approach revealed how often shoppers must rely on employees for help or resort to makeshift strategies like knocking items down into their carts. These coping methods underscored the urgent need for a better, more dignified solution.

A Pull-Down Shelf Prototype

After rounds of brainstorming, the students honed in on one promising idea: a pull-down shelf mechanism. This design would allow users to safely and easily access items placed on higher shelves, reducing the need for assistance and making grocery shopping a more equitable experience. Click here to watch the video of the prototype in action.

Building a More Inclusive Future

What started as a small classroom project has grown into a vision for more inclusive grocery stores. By combining lived experience, professional insight, and practical research, these three university students are showing how thoughtful design can break down barriers in everyday life.

Grocery stores are everyday spaces—but by making them accessible to all, we take a step toward a society where everyone can navigate their daily lives with independence and dignity. Vibrant is delighted to continue to work with students, volunteers and visionaries who are working to make this world, city and neighbourhood more accessible for everyone.