Understanding accessibility opportunities for tourism and event operators
GetAboutAble has worked with a number of clients who were successfully awarded the Access Starter Grant by the Queensland Government, Department of Tourism and Sport to support Queensland tourism and events operators to develop greater understanding of accessibility opportunities and requirements and improve the visitor experience and tourism and events service delivery.
GetAboutAble delivered training to Hook-a-Barra, Bundaberg Distillery, Great Keppel Island Hideaway and Keppel Konnections staff as part of the Accessibility and Inclusion Capacity Program.
![People sitting along a table doing a drink taste test](https://media.getaboutable.com/uploads/BundbergDistilleryTasting-1200x800.jpeg)
86% of respondents to a 2018 Tourism Research Australia survey identified ‘’Better Staff Training” as the key requirement to improving access to tourism activities for people with disability.
The Accessibility and Inclusion Capacity Program built the knowledge, skills, confidence and competence of their employees, as evidenced in pre and post survey training data collected, helping Hook-a-Barra, Bundaberg Distillery, Great Keppel Island Hideaway and Keppel Konnections to better meet the needs of the 1 in 5 Australians with disability and kickstarting their accessibility journey. The Capacity Building Program is designed specifically for tourism operators and covered the following topics:
- Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusion
- How to provide Good Accessibility Information
- Inclusive Welcome and Customer Service
GetAboutAble also completed an Accessibility and Inclusion Site Assessment and Website Review for High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm and The Salty Lime Co which included Recommendations Reports. We are also in the process of developing Disability Action and Inclusion Plans for these clients.
The Accessibility Site Assessment reviewed the High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm’s and The Salty Lime Co’s existing accessibility features and processes and made recommendations to improve access and inclusion, across infrastructure, communication channels, and soft skills such as staff training.
The Disability Action and Inclusion Plans (DAIP) will provide High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm and The Salty Lime with a strategic blueprint for making their business more inclusive of people with disability and addressing current barriers that reduce or prevent their equal access and participation, as visitors, and staff members. The DAIPs will translate their commitment to inclusivity into a set of objectives and actions with timelines and will note who is responsible for each aspect of implementation aimed at achieving desired outcomes.
Accessibility and Inclusion Site Assessment and Website Review and Recommendations Reports along with the Disability Action and Inclusion Plan will enable High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm to better meet the needs of the 1 in 5 Australians with disability and kickstart their accessibility journey.
Is your tourist operation interested in engaging GetAboutAble to undertake an Accessibility and Inclusion Site Assessment and Website Review and develop a Disability Action and Inclusion Plan that can assist you to increase your tourism business by 20% if you improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities as customers and employees?
Fill in the form below or email us directly at consulting@getaboutable.com
All images courtesy of the venues listed in this article
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