Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine April 2022 | Page 99

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Tourism for All team with Stephen Hawking 16 Sept . 2015
works in the field at Tourism For All ( profit company ) with customers so he can see what can be improved .
In order to stay abreast of what is relevant in working with individuals with disabilities , and to promote Portugal as an excellent accessible tourist destination , Jose attends tourism and abilities fairs and occasionally attends trainings in the United States .
Aside from being the founder of two organizations , Jose ’ s major accomplishments have included being the President for the National Association of Continued Care Units . These are secondary hospitals who receive patients from primary hospitals , and they offer rehabilitation and long-term care for people with disease and disabilities . Jose ’ s role with this association is to meet with the government , attend parliament , and conduct interviews with the media . Jose is currently overseeing projects that include building a kindergarten for children with disabilities and establishing a new home for people with disabilities . Jose views partnerships as building blocks for organizations . If people can work together , they can achieve better results .
When asked what excites him about being the founder of his company , Jose said he is very grateful to contribute and make a difference in people ’ s lives . Whether it is a smile on a client ’ s face or learning that 50-year-old man is traveling for the first time in his life , he finds it very rewarding . In regard to what the next 10 years look like for people with disabilities who want to travel independently , Jose sees biotechnology offering people with disabilities a better quality of life . He foresees people with disabilities will have the opportunity to parachute , parasail , and scuba dive in tourism . Jose feels that all of us need to be more inclusive . People don ’ t want to be treated differently . They want to be treated like everyone else and have access to facilities to conduct their lives . This includes sidewalks , ramps , elevators , and rooms . It is about allowing people to live a free life . Jose strongly believes that the world is our home , and we must take care of it and take care of each other .
Isabelle Ducharme and staff at Tourism for All