TravelAbility partners with nation ’ s # 1 Hospitality Management College to change the way travelers with a disability will be treated in the future
TravelAbility is delighted to announce a partnership with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management , which is part of the University of Central Florida , to develop TravelAbility : Filling the Accessibility Gap in Hospitality . This self-paced learning module will be part of the college ’ s experiential education program that is a requirement of graduation for all 3000 students .
“ Perhaps more than any of the other projects we developed over the past four years ,” said Jake Steinman , Founder and CEO of TravelAbility . “ This collaboration has the potential to make the most impact as it will infuse a new generation of hospitality supervisors and general managers with the awareness and empathy necessary to not only change the way people with disabilities are perceived , but also how they are treated .”
" All 3,000 plus students at the
Rosen College of Hospitality Management are introduced to the wider societal challenges that impact our industry through their courses , our incredible Internship program , and the opportunities to engage through their P . R . E . P . activities ,” commented Alan Fyall , Associate Dean of Academic Affairs , Rosen College of Hospitality . He added , “ Our partnership with TravelAbility represents an important milestone as the travel industry awakens to the significance of travelers with a disability and the steps required to both welcome and accommodate them in a seamless manner .”
TravelAbility will be contributing its expertise as well as content from The Accessibility Playbook , a copyrighted compendium of business cases , tips , products , innovations and 99 videos from prior conferences and events . The Rosen College of Hospitality Management was rated the # 1 academic level tourism program in the U . S . and # 2 in the world .
What is the Accessibility Gap ?
Every disability has a spectrum . The Americans with Disability Act ( ADA ) was written for the median . That means that even if hotels , attractions and restaurants are fully compliant , they still work for only 50 % of the people . The Accessibility Gap can be addressed by gathering and showcasing information online , providing training about accessibility needs and providing adaptive technology and innovations .
The course will begin with the spring semester and allow the next generation of travel industry executives , meeting planners and event managers to learn how to be welcoming to all guests .
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