All abilities trek to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko - Australia's highest peak

All abilities trek to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko - Australia's highest peak
All abilities trek to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko - Australia's highest peak - © Jennifer Johnson 2008

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Three Charts on: Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Three charts on: disability discrimination in the workplace

File 20171010 10864 1yj61lu.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1
 Many workplaces do not make reasonable adjustments for employees with disability.: Shutterstock
               
Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney and Tracy Taylor, University of Technology Sydney

Only 53% of Australians with disability are employed, compared to 83% of all working-age people. Australia ranks 21st out of 29 OECD nations when it comes to employment rates for people with a disability.

But looking at the data reveals an even darker story – complaints about disability discrimination are the largest category of discrimination reported to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), and the numbers have been steady for around 20 years.

Lower employment levels translate into Australians with disability living in poverty at the highest rates in the OECD.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics also found that the employment rates vary radically depending upon the “disability type”. Those who have a “psychological disability”, for example, have the lowest employment rate at 29%.

Employment also varies by “disability severity” (defined as mild, moderate, severe and profound). Employment decreases as severity increases. Only 26% of people with profound or severe physical disability are employed.



As you can see in the chart above, complaints to the AHRC are categorised by the legislation they fall under – Disability Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Racial Discrimination Act, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act, and Age Discrimination Act.

Using this, we can see that disability discrimination has consistently represented the highest proportion of complaints, currently 37%. When you consider that the Racial Discrimination Act and the Sex Discrimination Act total 41% of cases combined, this gives some insight into the prevalence of workplace discrimination faced by people with disability.

The next chart shows the proportion of disability discrimination complaints that relate to the workplace. This is approximately 35% from the latest figures but  has peaked at a much higher rate.

While we can’t explain the fluctuation, at various times there have been changes to the system, cuts in funding and political tensions. What can be interpreted from the figures is that disability discrimination has been sustained and ongoing over the two decades.



In our research, using publicly available complaint case summaries, we found that employers incorrectly assumed that the costs of employing people with disability were higher than they are, or were unaware of government programs to offset the costs of reasonable adjustments in the workplace. In other cases, people were discriminated against by the strict adherence to guidelines and policies. 

We found several distinctive themes in the disability complaints made.

For instance, many employers do not provide adequate access to the workplace. This could be as simple as tactile ground surfaces for people who are blind. Many cases also involved managers, or human resource procedures, being too quick to dismiss an employee who acquired a disability. Reasonable adjustments can often be made to the position descriptions.

Hiring practices were often biased and discounted the abilities of applicants (otherwise known as unconscious bias). In many cases, workplaces were not inclusive of assistive technologies, such as screen reading software or hearing loops. These would have allowed employees with a disability to do their job.

Mental health complaints have doubled in prevalence over time suggesting the dynamic nature of disability discrimination and the willingness of those with mental health issues to disclose their disability who previously may not have instigated a complaint case.



In reading the summaries of the complaints to the AHRC, it is apparent that employers, co-workers and third-party organisations (e.g. insurance companies) directly or indirectly treat people unfairly, or, in the worst cases, display open hostility to Australians with a disability.

In doing so, those involved show a lack of understanding of the basic legal principles of the Disability Discrimination Act. These include sections covering direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, unjustifiable hardship, inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.

What can be done?



Some may argue that Australians with severe levels of disability would be unable to work. But their experiences show that, with the correct assistive technology and attitudes that focus on ability rather than disability, employment is not just possible but imperative. 

A recent OECD report singled out Denmark and Switzerland for their targeted intervention for younger people with disability or medical conditions. This ensures they have the highest chances of being employed rather than becoming welfare-dependent.

The foundation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme shows the government’s desire to give people with disability the opportunity to move from welfare to employment. While we wait for the major policy change to take effect, other immediate options are available to bring about positive social change.

Positive exposure in the media (see Attitude Foundation), personal contact and education could change attitudes to disability. The government and non-profit organisations have a multitude of resources available for businesses, to raise awareness about best practice and inclusive assistance.

One good resource is Job Access. This government site provides education and resources to assist with workplace adjustment. It also provides direct assistance to people with disability.

The ConversationOther organisations like the Australian Network on Disability can help businesses to become strategically more inclusive. In the end it will come down to employers giving every Australian job seeker with disability a fair go and not judging “what I can do by what you think I can’t”.

Simon Darcy, Professor of Social Inclusion - UTS Business School - Centres for Business and Social innovation, and Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, University of Technology Sydney and Tracy Taylor, Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.


An article based on work we undertook on the Australian Human Rights Commission's complaint case and conciliation outcomes.
Darcy, S., Taylor, T., & Green, J. (2016). ‘But I can do the job’: examining disability employment practice through human rights complaint cases. Disability & Society, 31(9), 1242-1274. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2016.1256807
The Conversation

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Ospitalità Opening doors: how to make hospitality jobs truly inclusive

Innovative Italian and Australian Approaches
Reprinted from https://www.uts.edu.au/about/uts-business-school/management/news/opening-doors-how-make-hospitality-jobs-truly-inclusive 

Hotel Albergo Etico staff receive integrated life skills and vocational training.  Photo: Supplied 

The Albergo Etico in Italy is a hotel with a difference: sprouting from the desire of a group of friends to help one young man find a placement, today the hotel is staffed by people with Down Syndrome training in all facets of the hospitality business.
The hotel is owned and operated by the "Download Albergo Etico" Project, an integrated life skills and employment project for people with Down Syndrome that is garnering interest internationally, including in Australia.
“We aim to make people with Down Syndrome the real protagonists of their working life,” the project’s Chair Alex Toselli says. “I believe people with disabilities must have the same rights to dream, to make money, to drive a car,” he told a recent seminar at UTS Business School.
As well as being paid industry-standard wages, the hotel staff receive integrated life skills and vocational training so they gain a level of independence they can carry with them throughout their lives and careers.
Toselli is now working with groups in Australia, Argentina, Finland, Norway and Slovakia interested in the concept.

'I believe people with disabilities
must have the same rights to dream'

Consultant and former Executive Director of Down Syndrome NSW Tracylee Arestides – who experienced Hotel Etico first-hand last year – recently established Project Etico Australia and is working closely with Toselli on the goal of setting up a hotel here.
“We’ve had a tremendous response across the sector to the whole working, living, learning concept embodied by Project Etico,” says Arestides, a UTS alumna. 
The success of Albergo Etico is largely due to the positive attitudes of, and relationships formed with, the business, hospitality and tourism industries, as well as the local community, Toselli told the “Ospitalità or HospitABLE” seminar at the University of Technology Sydney.
But continued innovation in the hospitality, education and tourism sectors is needed to ensure sustainable and inclusive employment becomes widespread globally, he says.

Debbie and Brendon Coombes have been running a Livvi's Cafe in Blacktown, Sydney.  Photo: Supplied
Australia ranks 21st out of 29 OECD countries when it comes to employment of people with a disability, says Professor Simon Darcy of UTS Business School. Among those of working age, more than half are either officially registered as unemployed or counted as not participating in the labour force.
Discrimination in employment based on disability is a significant issue, as identified in a recent analysis of Australian Human Rights Commission complaints, he says.
Further, due to the history of “sheltered workshops” in Australia, underpayment remains a big problem, along with the amount of time spent looking for work, which is significantly higher among people with disabilities than the non-disabled.
“But we know there are innovative ways to connect training, employment and inclusive approaches to organisational practice and we want to show that people with disability can make long-term and sustainable contributions to Australia economically and socially,” Professor Darcy says.
Australian businesses that do employ people with a disability report greater productivity and higher staff morale.
That’s clearly an opportunity for the hospitality industry, where high staff turnover compromises customer service and sustainability, the seminar heard.

'Australian businesses that do employ
people with a disability report greater
roductivity and higher staff morale'

Social enterprise Livvi’s Café is another group trying to change the employment statistics for people with a disability.
As a social enterprise, Livvi’s Café – an offshoot of the not-for-profit organisation Touched By Olivia – operates under a business model where profits are generated but with the aim of funding social good.
The initial idea of the café chain was to create safe and inclusive play spaces for children with disabilities, founded on the principle that “every child has a right to play”. But the goals soon expanded to include providing employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. 
Chief Executive Bec Ho says the move into cafés two years ago was well received by the community – people were more than happy to wait a little longer for a coffee – and the project is improving the wellbeing and confidence of its young employees.
Aviva Redmond, who works as a service provider with service provider LifeStart and has a close family member with a disability, is excited to see projects like Download Albergo Etico and Livvi’s Café. “It’s really fantastic to see truly inclusive workplaces – workplaces that actually just treat people with disabilities like everyone else and pay them a fair wage,” she says.
Louise Geaghan from Willoughby Council says there’s still a lot of work to be done in Australia but the National Disability Insurance Scheme means Australia is on the cusp of a new world of choice and opportunity.
“As we move away from people with disabilities being in institutions or staying with their family for all of their lives, then we all start to think about them having those needs just like all of us do – and I think that’s really good,” she says.
Byline:
Viki Gerova and Lesley Parker

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

An oration examining transport, travel and tourism disadvantage and potential for people with disability

Reprinted with permission from Queensland Anti Discrimination Commission http://www.adcq.qld.gov.au/human-rights/Robert-Jones-Oration/2017-robert-jones-oration

 

2017 Robert Jones Oration

Without limits: developing the social and economic potential of accessible tourism for Queensland

The third Robert Jones Memorial Oration was held on Thursday 9 February 2017 at Royal on the Park, Brisbane.
Professor Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney, Business School — Management Group, and the Centre for Business and Social Innovation, delivered the oration titled Without limits: developing the social and economic potential of accessible tourism for Queensland .

Professor Simon Darcy
Prof Simon Darcy presenting the Robert Jones Oration

Contact details for Professor Darcy
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2017 Robert Jones Oration

Robert Jones' life was a testament to the contribution that people with disability can make at the highest level. Kevin Cocks has outlined Robert's life, contributions, and his unwavering principles to ensuring disability citizenship of the highest order. Due to the tight timeframe of the oration (20 minutes) I will not go back over Robert's contribution and allow Kevin's excellent overview stand as testament to his life.
I would like to thank Willie Prince for the Welcome to Country on behalf of the traditional owners, the Yaggera and Turrbal peoples. What I did not know before tonight was Willie's lived experience of disability, his personal involvement with Robert Jones and their shared lives from institutionalisation to active citizenship through community living. Willie and Robert lived through the very worst of what disability institutionalisation could provide through to the many layers of community living from the 1970s–2000s. Thank you Willie for sharing your and Robert's story.
I would like to pay respect to the previous 2 presenters of the Robert Jones oration and the topics that they covered:
  1. 2015 Robert Jones Oration: Mr.Maha Sinnathamby on visitability
  2. 2014 inaugural Robert Jones Oration: Dr Margaret Ward on public interest in the design of private housing
Dignitaries at the 2017 Robert Jones Oration
Robert Jones Oration dignitaries: Kevin Cocks AM; Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive Qld Tourism; Hon. Coralee O'Rourke, Minister for Disability Services; and Professor Simon Darcy
I would also like to acknowledge the Hon Coralee O'Rourke, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors, and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, the Hon Kate Jones MP Minister for Education Minister for Tourism and Major Events and the Palaszczuk government's commitment to growing the tourism industry and recognising the importance of accessible and inclusive tourism.
While government is important, as we will learn nothing can be done without the industry and I welcome Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive Queensland Tourism Industry Council as part of a collaborative approach essential to the success of any tourism strategy.
Audience seated at the Robert Jones Oration 2017
The audience at the 2017 Robert Jones Oration was attentive.
Lastly, it is an absolutely fantastic turnout here tonight with other members of the tourism industry, consumers with disability, disability advocates, the not-for-profit sector, different levels of government and others interested to improve the position of accessible and inclusive tourism as we move towards the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Link to external website(NDIS). For those in the room unaware of the NDIS , it provides a tremendous game changer for people with disability who will have individualised funding packages and choice and control over where to purchase disability services including leisure, recreation and tourism.
The overview of the oration will cover:
  1. the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and other research that identifies the economic and social benefits of accessible tourism
  2. the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with disabilities
  3. universal design as it is identified in the first 2 points
  4. the travel chain
  5. the importance of developing an access/inclusive culture through management and emphatic process.
I am breaking with the tradition of an oration and presenting a 2 minute video that was developed by the UNWTO for the 2016 World Accessible Tourism for All Day Link to external website held on 27th of September . The video provides an excellent example of presenting the underlying human rights philosophy, market arguments and social benefits that have been supported with a substantial set of research resources and manuals produced in 2015 by the UNWTO for the industry [1–6]. I will then supplement this video with other more contemporary research figures undertaken by myself and colleagues from around the academic and market research world.
Well we can all see why I played that video and when you examine the mission statement of the UNWTO it clearly states that it is the  United Nations' agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism  [7] First and foremost, by 2050 there will be some 1.5 bn people with disabilities living in the world with increasing levels of quality of life and disposable income. Yet, this is only the starting point of those who benefit from accessible tourism. As identified in Australia the beneficiaries include people with disability as shown in Figure 1, including those who have a temporary disability through injury or illness, families with young children, seniors with access needs and through universal design the creation of safer working environments [8]. The safer working environments' argument stems directly from universal design creating environments that do not require the lifting of equipment and have better ergonomics for the ongoing health of the workforce. This research suggests that at any time 31% of the population may benefit from these inclusions.
Of the total population, 31 per cent of tthe population has access requirements. This is made up of people with disabilities (20 per cent), seniors (8 per cent) and families with young children (3 percent). Others who benefit but for whom there are no percentages  are: people with a temporary disability, and people who will benefit from a safe working environment.
Figure 1: beneficiaries of accessible and inclusive tourism

While the oration does not leave a great deal of time to discuss the very important considerations of the major types of disability or accessibility requirements, it goes without saying that all my comments tonight are inclusive of those with mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive and other access requirements. As we see the rollout of the NDIS , we are seeing a fulfillment of unmet need particularly across those with cognitive or intellectual impairments and those children on the autistic spectrum who require early intervention in order to live full lives into adult hood [9]. Creating accessible and inclusive tourism opportunities for these disability groups requires radically different solutions for what could be considered multiple market opportunities. Where many talk of a disability market segment, I talk about the multiple opportunities to develop accessible tourism products and services. Further on traditional market segmentation theory, I strongly argued to the industry that disability is already part of every market segment even though it is not widely recognised [10, 11].
When we examine the World Report on Disability [12] and examine market potential of the group within our major domestic and overseas tourism markets then the importance becomes far more pressing with respect to improving our economic position for GDP in attracting tourists internationally. From a domestic position if we consider the approximately 5 people with disability in Australia and New Zealand (our major international market and our most eastern state!) the numbers are significant in themselves. However, when we examine some of our key markets such as China with 83 , Japan with 14 mand India with 49 people with disability we already know the importance of these markets to Australian tourism [13]. When this is put in context to the EU 27 countries 127 , US 60 , Great Britain 10 and Canada 4 people with disability this provides significant opportunity to leverage on well established markets, marketing and distribution. However, what people forget is that individuals with disabilities do not travel by themselves and when travelling on a day trip travel with approximately 2–4 people in their group or on overnight stays with 3–5 people in their group [14–17]. Of course, these numbers of people with disability have been translated into the economic worth of the group with the EU 27 can being valued at €141 bn , the US$17.3 bn and in Australia some 11% of Tourism GDP directly attributable to PWD and their group. Yet this figure is nowhere near the 20% of the population identified as having a disability and suggests a potential to improve market and destination development [14].
The Australian travel rates that I will now present suggest that there are a series of barriers and constraints that affect the travel participation of people with disabilities from daytrips, overnight trips and outbound travel. As shown in Figure 2, while people with disability and the nondisabled undertake day trips at about the same rate, there is a 21% drop in participation by people with disability in undertaking overnight travel and some 51% drop in participation in travelling overseas [18, 19]. Yet, why is there this decreasing level of participation when travelling overnight or abroad? Mainstream tourism research already shows the tremendous social benefits that come from experiencing tourism, the cultural enrichment, feelings of improve quality of life and decreasing levels of stress. A number of studies have shown that for people with disabilities these experiences and the constraints they face are radically different to that of the nondisabled [20, 21].
For day trips, people with disability travel 3 per cent more than others.  For overnight trips, people with disability travel 21 per cent less than others.  For outbound trips, people with disability travel 51 per cent less than others.
Figure 2: comparative travel rates between people with disability

While I have already presented beneficiaries, economic and social arguments for accessible tourism, it would not be a Robert Jones oration without a conscious link back to human rights. While the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission is sponsoring tonight, Australia is also signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities such that we should hold the Australian governments to account in understanding our desire for active citizenship within our local areas, regional interchanges, national and international travel. The Convention outlines 8 principles: respect for inherent dignity; nondiscrimination; full and effective participation; acceptance of difference/diversity; equality of opportunity; general accessibility; gender difference; and the importance of the rights of children with disability [22]. Further, in a transport, travel and tourism sense the importance of the following articles of the Convention for people with mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive and other access requirements are paramount to ensuring our right to transport, travel and tourism:
  • article 20 personal mobility - where individuals may require personal support or other assistive technology to assist their independent, dignified and equitable wayfinding. Opportunities are emerging for innovative tourism products and services to assist those with personal mobility barriers to reach even the most pristine or cultural sensitive environments e.g. TrailRider Link to external website;
  • article 9 that incorporates accessibility in its broadest sense across the built environment, common domain, transport, ICT, and geographic equity in urban and rural areas;
  • article 27 work and employment, which has been a focus of governments in breaking the poverty cycle for people with disability and reducing welfarism. Yet this cannot occur unless all the other requisites are in place to create a more enabling environment for people with disability to engage in work and employment with the same ease as the nondisabled;
  • article 30 specifically identifies the importance of a  cultural life  including the arts, sport, recreation and tourism. Do we live to work or do we work to live? Whether a person is employed or not there needs to be an inherent respect for their right to a life that is inclusive and enriching of what it means to be a citizen and in our case an Australian.
With respect to transport and travel even with the Disability Standard for Accessible Public Transport we have seen transport as a battleground for key human rights cases including but not limited to:
Without the same rights to transport we are unable to enjoy the same mobility as other people for business or leisure locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. Of course, we could not discuss discrimination in the built environment without acknowledging Kevin Cocks v State of Queensland. For those people with disability who are frustrated with information planning, transport, accommodation and attractions sectors, we are lucky enough to have an active Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to undertake complaint cases and Federal Court Link to external website actions. Further each state has a body similar to the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission and I am sure that Kevin Cocks is only too ready and willing to assist you to improve the accessibility of your local community or tourism products and services.
With this fleeting examination of these 4 critical articles, there are a significant number of challenges facing not just Queensland but Australia when it comes to some contemporary manifestations of innovative disruption. I would like to mention 3 as I know it is critical within a transport, travel and tourism context but more importantly it is at a time where these issues are being debated by the government, transport and tourism industries.
  • Uber and the disruption of point to point traditional taxi services Link to external website. What seems to have been lost in the argument is the hard fought for rights of people with disability like myself who are reliant on paratransit systems. The right to paratransit systems was fought long and hard in each state of Australia and have provided those with mobility, vision and cognitive disabilities who are unable to use public transport or transport themselves to have a viable alternative. Uber and other share economy offerings seek to deregulate what were classic areas of  market failure  . In other words, regulation was required to ensure that for reasons of equity people with disability have the same rights as other public transport users. Uber does not invest in rolling stock, moves its profits offshore and we are rushing to deregulate a billion-dollar industry without thoughts for the long-term consequences to those who regulation was originally put in place to ensure a more level playing field.
  • Similarly with Airbnb Link to external website and other share economy offerings in the accommodation sector — where are the platforms for inclusion of accessible rooms?
  • Without wanting to get into the technicality of the accommodation sector, Queensland has another issue that is worth mentioning. Much of the supply of commercial accommodation currently occurs as serviced apartments which, as Class 2 buildings under the Australian building code, do not require visitability, accessible or adaptable room supply. As a state that wishes to position itself as accessible and inclusive how can you not provide the same opportunities to almost 20% of the population?
  • While these last 2 points about the accommodation sector have been on the scene now for over a decade and there has been excellent initiatives by individual operators and chains, there has been a lack of a systematic approach to the accommodation sector's information collation, presentation, promotion, marketing and distribution of accessible rooms stock. Additionally we have seen a multitude of Australian human rights complaint cases highlighting the lack of understanding between suppliers and consumers as to what constitutes room accessibility [23]. Surely we can improve communication and coordination of marketing and promotion of accessible accommodation to provide opportunities for consumers to make a more informed decision about accessible accommodation for their needs and to assist accommodation suppliers and improving occupancy and yield of their accessible rooms stock [18]? Current accommodation marketing, promotion and distribution in Spain and the UK present valuable examples where accessible accommodation stock is used as a mechanism to gain a competitive advantage [1–6].
While we have identified a series of barriers to participation how do we create enabling environments based on the UNidentified universal design principles? A starting point I would like to bring together the 3 concepts and their definitions - accessible tourism, universal design as outlined by the UNWTO and the travel chain. First, universal design and accessible tourism which has been defined as:
 Accessible tourism is a form of tourism that involves collaborative processes between stakeholders that enables people with access requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments. This definition adopts a whole of life approach where people through their lifespan benefit from accessible tourism provision. These include people with permanent and temporary disabilities, seniors, obese, families with young children and those working in safer and more socially sustainably designed environments.  (Darcy & Buhalis 2011, p10-11) [10].
What this definition does is to bring together a great deal of what we have already been speaking about with respect to the inclusion of different disability types, the importance of independence, equity and dignity, and the connection with seniors and people over their lifespan. What becomes important with this definition is seen tonight in the Robert Jones oration room where all the different stakeholders required for accessible tourism to occur in a collaborative process are present, eager to engage in conversations with each other to get a more successful outcome for Queensland. As noted in the academic literature, if your business does not identify tourists as a market and you do not collaborate with other businesses to assist with information and marketing to target tourists then you are not in the tourism business [24].
Even when these collaborative processes are in place, tourism relies on other sectors to provide aspects of the infrastructure, transport, attractions, regulation, coordination and experience creation. Even before destinations have a clear identity or their  sense of place  [25], their destination competitiveness, sustainability and opportunities for accessible tourism, they must be in a position to have people of different disabilities be able to seamlessly get to and from the destination. The United Nations and the World Bank refer to this as the  the travel chain  and it is not dissimilar to the concept of a  continuous pathway  that underpins the Disability Standards for Access to Premises Link to external website. The travel chain is a seductively simple concept that is so central to the way people with different abilities need to think about how they are going to travel from point A to point B in undertaking any journey to ensure their mobility locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The travel chain has been defined as:
 refers to all elements that make up a journey, from starting point to destination — including the pedestrian access, the vehicles, and the transfer points. If any link is inaccessible, the entire trip becomes difficult  [12].
While this may seem daunting for a precinct, suburb, city, state or nation, the building blocks can be found in any local community that is regarded as accessible and inclusive. Whether that is so that people with any ability can live, work and have the recreational experiences they want or whether it is areas to visit for business or for holidays. A starting point for any precinct, suburb or city is to create liveable communities where residents are valued and included. Good local accessible communities form the basis for accessible tourism destinations. Whether that be the work done on improving the footpath and pedestrian areas of Noosa or the transport linkages to get people to the World Heritage areas of Cairns.
An accessible fishing boat with a man in a wheel chair holding up a fish he has caught.
Figure 3: Simon catches a coral trout
As already identified in the oration the information and planning issues become more complicated with overnight travel or with international travel. Travel planning information, bookings, transport linkages, accommodation and tourist attractions are all important elements that make up the journey. Of course, in a tourism sense this is expanded to include multiple transport modes and accommodation for travel involving multiple destinations.
Yet, the linkages that make up the connections to and from a destination are not the reason people travel for tourism purposes. As one person said in research I was carrying out  I just wanted to do cool things without the hassle  and this quote sums up the frustration some people with disability have who feel that they are abandoned by the industry when it comes to providing the information they need on which to make an informed decision to book a trip for the accessible experiences that they want to immerse themselves in. Whether that is going to Sea World on the Gold Coast, going to one of the great outdoor events at Southbank in Brisbane or getting to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 Link to external website. In my own case it was some 20 linkages to the travel chain that was required back in 2012 when I was on a business trip but had always wanted to fish off Magnetic Island. With a bit of a luck everything came together and as Figure 3 shows I caught (and released) a coral trout from a great accessible boat with a real character of a local guide, Cliffy. However, if the tourism industry, government and non-for profit sector have a strategic approach to accessible tourism marketing, promotion and distribution then it should require less luck to have these great experiences.
So to conclude tonight I would like to go back to the definition of accessible tourism and implore those in the room from the commercial tourism sector, government and non-for profits to work together to improve the opportunities for everybody to visit your great state. This is everybody's job to identify a series of tourism products and services that are accessible for the beneficiaries of accessible and inclusive environments including people with mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, other disabilities, and seniors with access needs. There is great product out there already but it needs to be identified, collated, promoted, marketed and distributed to people with disability. With the NDIS we are at a watershed both from a social policy but also a market perspective where those in industry must recognise the commercial opportunities that are literally just around the corner as the NDIS rolls out in Queensland in 2018. I am sure that these efforts will bring mutually beneficial outcomes with the tourism industry having improved economic outcomes and consumers enjoying more satisfying tourism experiences. Tonight should be a beginning to addressing one of the largest barriers facing people with disability by changing attitudes of those in industry and government to consider them as a just another group looking to have great (accessible) tourism experiences.
I am sure that Robert Jones would agree that it would be great for the Queensland tourism industry to have a simple slogan Everyone Welcome  (Figure 4).
Everyone Welcome
Figure 4: Everyone welcome

Endnotes

1. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Public-private Partnerships and Good Practices . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
2. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices - Module 1 . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
3. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices - Module 2 . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
4. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices - Module 3 . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
5. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices - Module 4 . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
6. UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices - Module 5 . 2015, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ACS: Madrid.
7. UNWTO, About us . 2016, World Tourism Organization: Madrid.
8. Darcy, S. and T. Dickson, A Whole-of-Life Approach to Tourism: The Case for Accessible Tourism Experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2009. 16 (1): p. 32-44.
9. National Disability Insurance Scheme, Annual Report 2015-2016 . 2016, National Disability Insurance Scheme: Canberra and Geelong.
10. Buhalis, D. and S. Darcy, eds. Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues . 2011, Channel View Publications: Bristol, UK. 350.
11. Buhalis, D., S. Darcy, and I. Ambrose, eds. Best Practice in Accessible Tourism: Inclusion, Disability, Ageing Population and Tourism . 2012, Channel View Publications: Bristol, UK. 350.
12. World Health Organization and World Bank. World Report on Disability Link to external website . 2011.
13. Tourism Research Australia. International Market Reports Link to external website. 2017 [cited 2017 21 January].
14. Dwyer, L. and S. Darcy, Chapter 14 - Economic Contribution of Tourists with Disabilities: An Australian Approach and Methodology , in Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues , D. Buhalis and S. Darcy, Editors. 2011, Channel View Publications: Bristol, UK. p. 213-239.
15. GFK, et al., Economic Impact and Travel Patterns of Accessible Tourism . 2015, European Commission in conjunction with GFK - University of Surrey - Neumann Consulting - Pro A Solutions.
16. Open Doors Organization, Research among Adults with Disabilities: Travel and Hospitality (USA) . 2015, Open Doors Organization: Chicago.
17. Domínguez, T., J.A. Fraiz, and E. Alén, Economic profitability of accessible tourism for the tourism sector in Spain.Tourism Economics, 2013. 19 (6): p. 1385-1399.
18. Darcy, S., Inherent complexity: Disability, accessible tourism and accommodation information preferences. Tourism Management, 2010. 31 (6): p. 816-826.
19. Domínguez, T., S. Darcy, and E. Alén, Competing for the disability tourism market - a comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia. Tourism Management, 2015. 47 (1): p. 261-272.
20 . Burnett, J.J. and H. Bender-Baker, Assessing the travel-related behaviors of the mobility-disabled consumer. Journal of Travel Research, 2001. 40 (1): p. 4-11.
21. Daniels, M.J., E.B. Drogin Rodgers, and B.P. Wiggins, "Travel Tales": an interpretive analysis of constraints and negotiations to pleasure travel as experienced by persons with physical disabilities. Tourism Management, 2005. 26 (6): p. 919-930.
22. United Nations, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Link to external website . 2006, New York: United Nations General Assembly A/61/611 - 6 December 2006.
23. Darcy, S. and T. Taylor, Disability citizenship: An Australian human rights analysis of the cultural industries. Leisure Studies, 2009. 28 (4): p. 419-441.
24. Leiper, N., et al., Partial Industrialisation in Tourism: A New Model. Current Issues in Tourism, 2008. 11 (3): p. 207-235.
25. Derrett, R.O.S., Making Sense of How Festivals Demonstrate a Community's Sense of Place. Event Management, 2003. 8 (1): p. 49-58.

Sunday, March 5, 2017

United Nations World Tourism Organization develops policy and manuals on accessible tourism


For those who may not be aware the United Nations World Tourism Organization together with contributing organisations and individuals have developed and published a set of resources to assist destinations in developing accessible tourism information, marketing, products and services.

The resources draw on the best academic, industry and policy practice from around the world with impetus gained from the San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism and the subsequent UNWTO recommendations on accessible tourism.

Hopefully all manuals will eventually appear in English as well as Spanish.

The remainder of the page is reprinted from http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/accessible-tourism 
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The front cover of the UNWTO manual on accessible Tourism for All showing a heritage building
UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism
The UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All are meant to be used as a general, basic mainstreaming framework for ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the physical environment, the transportation system, information and communications channels, as well as to a wide range of public facilities and services. 
The Recommendations incorporate the most relevant aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities of 2006 and the principles of Universal Design.
In the context of a trilateral agreement between UNWTO, ONCE and ENAT, the recommendations were adopted by UNWTO General Assembly Resolution A/RES/637(XX) of August 2013, updating the 2005 UNWTO Recommendations. 
Read the Recommendations in English Español Français

Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All
One of the most significant outcomes of a major collaboration framework between UNWTO and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), particularly the Spanish ONCE Foundation for the Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), and the Spanish ACS Foundation, are the Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All.
The manuals are meant to assist tourism stakeholders in improving the accessibility of tourism destinations, facilities and services worldwide.
Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Public-Private Partnerships and Good Practices
Full text: English  Spanish   Executive SummaryEnglish Español Français
The first tangible outcome of a fruitful collaboration between the UNWTO and the ACS Foundation features the inclusion of both cultural and natural heritage assets into the accessible tourism value chain as well as the technical knowledge necessary for making tourism infrastructures and attractions accessible to all. The English translation of the Spanish original was published in January 2015. The Publication been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA)

Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices 
Executive Summary (of all five Modules): English Español Français
1.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices,  Module I
Full text: Spanish 
UNWTO's second publication on universal accessibility has been co-produced with the Spanish ONCE Foundation for social inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Network for Accessible Tourism - ENAT. Module I is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

2.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices,  Module II
Full text: Spanish 
Module II of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices suggests specific recommendations targeting the tourism sector with the aim of creating accessible tourism destinations. The proposed actions are based on the need to respect the integrity of the entire value chain of a tourist experience when implementing universal accessibility plans, and thus cover the five main areas of the same: planning and information, transportation, accessibility of the natural and built environments, shared public spaces and specific spaces. It is essential that people with disabilities and special needs complete their travel experience without any obstacles like all the other tourists. Module II is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

3.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices, Module III
Full text: Spanish
Module III of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practicesco-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, highlights the necessary actions that need to be undertaken in order to make the universal accessibility in tourism a reality. These actions should result from an overall policy framework and specific strategies fostering Accessible Tourism which are being discussed in this module. The policy framework should provide the basis for proper planning and development of strategic areas of intervention, such as legislation, awareness-raising and training, research, as well as marketing and management of accessible tourism. Module III is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

4.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices, Module IV
Full text: Spanish
Module IV of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Best Practices, co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, proposes a series of indicators developed for tourism destinations to assess, control, and manage their accessible tourism offer. Accompanied by a detailed methodology for their application, these indicators can serve as a practical tool not only to assess the current situation within destinations but also to consider further actions that may be required. Module IV is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

5.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices Module V  NEW!
Full text: Spanish
Module V of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices, co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, provides an overview of case studies and good practices which have proven a successful implementation of universal accessibility in different spheres of tourism, such as promotion, market research, travel agencies, transportation, accommodation, training & capacity building and destination management. The examples featured therein analyze a wide spectrum of conditions which were decisive in making accessible tourism a reality and are meant to inspire the key stakeholders to engage in similar initiatives in their respective areas of influence.  Module V is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism 
The Declaration which resulted from the 1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe, held on 19-20 November 2014 in the Republic of San Marino, can be downloaded here:

Relevant UNWTO Events and Reports on Tourism and Accessibility 

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