'Bermuda has potential for those with disabilities'

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23: Businesses and tourist destinations are missing a huge opportunity by not catering for people with disabilities.

That is the view of British consultant Rick Williams who says Bermuda has “enormous potential” to develop the market.

Mr Williams, who is blind, and runs his own consultancy firm in England, is visiting the island on a week-long trip to raise awareness about issues affecting disabled people.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “There is enormous potential to expand this tourism industry for disabled people.

“Especially when you consider one in three people will acquire an age related disability between 50 and 65, and the fact that 80 per cent of wealth lies with the over 50s.

“Saying there is a relationship between spending power and people with disabilities.

“Places that make themselves more accessible to people with disabilities just do better — cruise lines are pretty good at this.

“I can say from experience that people with disabilities spend hours on line to find out whether a venue will cater for their needs.

“There needs to be information on a hotel’s website detailing what adjustments are made for people with disabilities just for people to consider it as a potential holiday destination.

Deterring visitors

“And if you are not making your business attractive to disabled people you are probably also deterring potential visitors who know someone with a disability.

“It does not have to be a major financial outlay either.

“I know of one hotel in the UK which spent 5,000 pounds on a hoist in one bedroom. Within a year they had earned an extra 250,000 pounds by securing conferences which would not have chosen them if they did not have the hoist.

“There is a lot of money here. People with disabilities have a spending dollar and it is very valuable.”

Mr Williams’ visit comes as Bermuda prepares to enact the Human Rights (Unreasonable Hardship) Amendment Act next month.

The amendment means employers will have to make every reasonable effort, short of unreasonable hardship, to accommodate employees with disabilities.

But Mr Williams says there are significant benefits in employing workers with disabilities, and the changes that need to be made in the workplace to accommodate the individuals are often minimal.

He added: “The key is changing people’s mindset.

“There are major benefits of employing people with disabilities and it makes good business sense.

“Employing someone with a disability means a better understanding of disability within the organization. Often the adjustments that need to be made in an office for an employee with a disability are fairly simple and don’t cost anything. For example allowing them to work from home once a week or arriving in work after the rush hour.

“Of the adjustments that do cost money 90 per cent of them cost less than $300, which is very low.

“Most of the adjustments that need making are in people’s attitudes.”

Lisa Lister, executive officer of the Human Rights Commission, said: “We have the opportunity to become less resistant and more appreciative of what people with disabilities bring to the workplace.

“Part of the challenge is breaking down the myth that disabled people are not educated and they can not function.

“There is room for improvement in the way we deal with disability in Bermuda.”

A public forum to discuss what the changes in the law mean will take place today in Cathedral Hall between 12:30pm and 1:30pm.

Mr Williams, Minister Glenn Blakeney and other representatives from the Human Rights Commission and the National Office of Seniors and Physically Challenged will be talking at the event, which is open to everyone.