LAKELAND, Fla. — Peyton Short loves the Black & Brew coffee shop in Lakeland.
The 27-year-old is there all the time. So many delicious options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There is one problem. For the longest time, the visually-impaired man couldn't read the menu.
Short had to ask Black & Brew baristas read it for him.
"I learned at a very young age to be independent," says Short, who lives on his own and works at Publix. "Some people think they need to hold our hands for the rest of our lives."
Short is a good-natured guy, a Disney fanatic with his own charms.
When he reached out to Black & Brew owner Chris McArthur about a certain request, he did so with respect.
"I just wanted to remind him about the independence thing," says Short.
He asked if his favorite coffee shop could please have a Braille menu available for visually-impaired customers.
McArthur, whose business life has been turbulent during the pandemic, was nevertheless moved by the request.
"That really resonated with me," says McArthur. "Because I'm a fiercely independent person myself."
In a lasting gesture of kindness and empathy, McArthur worked with Short and Braille Works in Seffner to have that menu printed.
On a recent visit, Short happily perused the breakfast menu in Braille. So many delicious options, literally now at his fingertips. He hopes more restaurants follow suit.
"We just want to be like everyone else," Short says with a smile.
