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Learn What Hotel Rooms Need to Be Inclusive in Under 4 Minutes

April 25, 2023 by rschultz Leave a Comment

image of an automatic door with a wheelchair symbol sign that says Push Button to Reduce Speed

No one can say they don’t have time to learn about accessibility when it only takes four minutes.

Ashley Lyn Olson, founder of Wheelchair Traveling, created a four minute video showing some of the accessible dos and don’ts that wheelchair users look out for when booking an accessible hotel room. This is a great example of how including the disabled community in the conversation makes a difference in creating accessibility. Watch the video here.

Our Takeaway: Learning how to be accessible for travelers with a disability can be as simple as watching an instructional video.

Why 80% of Shower Set-ups in Hotel Bathrooms are Inaccessible to Wheelchair Users?

April 25, 2023 by rschultz Leave a Comment

photo of John Morris a triple amputee sitting in an airline seat wearing a blue blazer an open collared blue shirt

WheelchairTravel.org founder John Morris has assessed hundreds of accessible hotel rooms, and he reports that ADA compliance is “rare” – particularly in the bathroom. Whose fault is it that many as 80% could be off-limits to disabled hotel guests? Hoteliers, who find themselves in the unfortunate position of being in the middle of architects, contractors and regulators, get 100% of the blame for compliance issues.

Our Takeaway: With this unfortunate system of blame dumping, it’s a good thing that there are still ways to recognize the lack of, and work toward helping.

Uncover the root of the issue and what can be done about it here.

Federal Authorities Fine Red Roof Inn for Discrimination Against Blind Employee

April 25, 2023 by rschultz Leave a Comment

Photo of a Red Roof Inn stan stucco sides with red roof and cars in parking lot

Don’t let this be you! The Red Roof Inn will pay to settle a discrimination lawsuit from a blind employee in Ohio. After requesting an accommodation to attend an online information session for a promotional opportunity, his supervisor gave a poor response that has stirred up trouble for this Red Roof Inn. Read the full story here.

Our Takeaway: This incident serves as a poignant reminder to all businesses to prioritize and respect the rights of individuals with disabilities and to take steps to provide reasonable accommodations so that they can have equal access to job opportunities.

IHG Hotels To Recruit More People With Disabilities In Australia

April 25, 2023 by rschultz Leave a Comment

Photo of 3 unidentified IHG employees 2 men in blue uniforms with a woman wearing a white shirt in the center

The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is doubling down on efforts to make a career in hotels more accessible for people with disability through a new strategic partnership with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) employment service, EmployAbility. The partnership supports the employment of people with a physical disability across a wide variety of positions at IHG hotels around the country, not just desk-based roles, creating a more diverse and inclusive hospitality industry.

Our Takeaway: Inclusion in the hospitality industry, especially in the workplace, is attainable and sets a positive example for others to follow.

Find out how this partnership is successful here.

A Dark Dining Experience: A Blast for the Senses

April 25, 2023 by rschultz Leave a Comment

photo of 2 glasses of red wine on a table with white place settings

While light may be lacking, nothing else is at this dark dining restaurant. Dans le Noir, a French name for “in the dark,” employs only blind and partially sighted workers. This gives them a clear advantage in the growing trend of dark dining, with employees who can better guide guests through the dining experience because of their own daily experiences. With visually impaired staff as their guides through dark dining, Dans le Noir’s sighted diners will understand that in the right environment, disability can be an employee’s greatest asset.