People With Disabilities Impetus For New Teaching Hotel

Hi,

This interesting article appears in the free newsletter, The Disability Scoop.  You can access the full story at http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/03/10/people-teaching-hotel/19178   Disability Scoop stories are all about the population of Intellectual Challenges.

Frustrated by the lack of postsecondary opportunities for his son who has Down syndrome, a parent is credited with the original idea behind this new project.

Construction is set to begin on a first-of-its-kind hotel where employing people with disabilities and teaching them will be just as important as all the expected services and amenities as in any other hotel.  Expected opening will be summer 2015.

The project is a partnership between Courtyard by Marriott, the ARC (formerly known as Association for Retarded Citizens), and the state of Indiana which will be contributing up to $5 million.  At least 20 percent of workers at the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott being built in Muncie, Ind. will be individuals with developmental and other types of disabilities. These employees will be working in all types of positions within the hotel.

In addition, the hotel will offer postsecondary educational opportunities for individuals to learn about the food services and hospitality industries. One of the major goals is to serve as a training ground for human resources professionals to better understand how to hire people with special needs.

This idea is such a unique and exciting one, that school districts and colleges around the country could benefit from similar projects.

 

Do any of you work in postsecondary career programs for students with disabilities?  Please comment on the specific areas of training.

Thanks,

Rochelle Kenyon, SME

Comments

Rochelle,

Loved the article from The Disability Scoop.  I'd like to share another employment opportunity for our friends with developmentally disabilities here in Oklahoma.  Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) in Oklahoma City was established in 1953.  It started as a school for (that era term) individuals with mental retardation.  As time progressed so did the needs and it now is the oldest and largest community vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities in Oklahoma. With multiple locations in Oklahoma, DRTC trains or employs more than 1200 people with disabilities per year.  Check out their website for specifics - http://www.drtc.org/

DRTC's new and exciting venture: the first Papa Murphy's owned by a non-profit!  Read more about it in this New York Times article -http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/giving/charities-get-into-fast-food.html?ref=elizabetholson&_r=2&  

Another of DRTC programs - partnerships with K-12 districts supporting community employment training.  We will be joining them for our second year of iJobs, a summer employment opportunity for two K-12 districts (10 students) in collaboration with DRS, DDS Waivers and GALT.  Students will meet one day of the week for briefing and work up to 20 hours a week at a community business throughout the summer.  They will receive fading job coach services and a paycheck of up to 20 hours per week of competitive pay.

Good things for some of our friends with disabilities, however, we continue to strive for more.  The hole of opportunity is big and deep and we have many individuals in need.  One large hole for us in Oklahoma is the DDS Waiver waiting list, 7 years for individuals!

Best,

Marcie

 

Hi Marcie,

I can't thank you enough for this wonderful message.  First, we know that programs like this are instrumental in improving the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities.  Kudos to Oklahoma and to all the people who support these programs.

In addition, your message illustrates two of the goals of this Community of Practice:  to discuss important topics in adult education for students with disabilities and to share best practices and programs that would benefit all users and improve the field.

You have done that successfully!!

I appreciate your participation within this group.

Rochelle Kenyon, SME