Ski for Light Event Planning Manual

June 2011

14. Hotel Staff Orientation and Training Coordinator

The same orientation given to local volunteers is also given to hotel staff. The orientation they receive is important so that they feel comfortable working with our group.

Pre-Event

Planning Meeting

• Depending on travel distance, time and budget constraints, you may be asked to attend the planning meeting. If you do not attend, please ensure your responsibilities are carried out by someone who does.

December 1

• Notify Hotel Function Coordinator of room and audiovisual equipment needs for hotel staff orientation.

January 15

• Confirm with Hotel Function Coordinator the training of all staff and the times and places for this orientation.

International Week

Friday

• Conduct orientation sessions for hotel staff. If Friday is not possible, negotiate a mutually-agreeable time.

Hotel Staff Orientation

• Conduct orientation sessions of 30 - 45 minutes, 3 - 4 times during the first weekend to cover all shifts. If possible, sessions divided by departments (servers, bartenders, housekeepers, office and front desk staff, etc. so that issues specific to each department can be addressed.
• Talk about the different ways that they will encounter SFL participants and special needs (housekeeping, bartenders, serving staff in dining room, front desk staff).
• Tell them about the general philosophy of SFL and how they fit into the week's program.

Orientations

• General information for all groups
  · Talk about Ski for Light, its history and purpose, and how the week is structured; tell who attends (age range, geographical distribution, range of occupations, etc.).
  · Provide a general reminder to staff not to make assumptions about what people with disabilities can or cannot do. After all, a person with a disability is just that-a person, not a disability. People with disabilities are just like anyone else except that they may have to do things a little differently because of the disability.
  · Suggest that if you are in doubt as to whether or not to assist someone, ask him. Because part of our philosophy at SFL is to encourage independence, it is best to offer assistance only when requested, or if the person looks puzzled or disoriented. Then ask how you can help. Remember that the person with the disability is the expert in this department.
  · Explain briefly different kinds of visual impairment (range from high partial to total; congenital to adventitious; and how those differences may affect functioning of participants or variations in needs).
• Preferred Words:
  " "Look this over and tell me what you think." When talking to visually-impaired people, use specific language such as "left", "right", "in front", "behind" (including distance such as six inches, one foot, etc.). Remember that if you are facing the person, your left is his/her right. Remember that "over there" has no meaning to someone who cannot see where you are pointing. Do not talk louder unless you know that the person also has a hearing impairment. Speak directly to the person using his/her name if you can (do not ask a nearby sighted person "Does he/she want...
• ").
  · If you encounter a blind person coming toward you in the hall, say "hi". That way, the person will know that you are present and where you are. Many sighted people have a tendency to move aside and keep quiet, thinking they will not disturb the blind person. This could result in the blind person being startled when coming close to you or that he/she may walk into you or hit you with the cane as it is swung. If you are conversing with a blind person, tell him/her when you are leaving; otherwise, he/she may be embarrassed to learn that he/she has been talking to the air. If you follow these tips, you will avoid discomfort and embarrassment for yourself and/or the blind person.
  · Disabled or mobility-impaired instead of crippled. It is okay to use words like "walk" and "run" with a physically disabled person. These are also common in our everyday speech. For example: "Will you run down the hall..."
  · When having a lengthy conversation with a person in a wheelchair, pull up a chair for yourself, so he doesn't have to keep looking up at you.
• Guide Dogs: The dogs are trained to guide a blind person. They should not be distracted or interfered with when they are working. They are working when they are in their harness. When they do not have their harness on, they are just like any other dog. They can be played with and petted like a pet dog. If you pet or talk to a guide dog when it is working it will distract it from its job. The dog has limited vocabulary and only knows words like forward, right, left, inside and outside. The blind person and the dog work as a team. The blind person gives the directions. The dog is trained to stop at curbs, stairs and ramps and to wait for directions. Give directions to the blind person, not the dog.
• Cane travel: A blind person using a cane sweeps the cane in a diagonal pattern in front of him or her to make sure the path is clear and safe and to detect any obstacles in the way. Never grab the cane of a blind person. This can be distracting and disorienting. Canes are usually white and fairly long so that the person can travel at a comfortable pace. Some canes are foldable and some are not.
• Sighted Guide Techniques: When you are walking with a blind person, the blind person usually walks at your side with his/her hand holding your arm just above the elbow. He or she is a half step behind you. In this way, the person can tell when you make turns or go up and down stairs. It is a good idea to let the person know if you are at stairs and if the stairs go up or down. When you go through a narrow area or doorway, drop your arm behind you and the blind person will naturally fall in behind you, switching hands if necessary. Walk at a normal pace. Walk up to a chair with a blind person and put his or her hand on the back of the chair so that he/she knows which way the chair is facing.
• Money: Blind people can tell the coins apart by size and the fact that quarters and dimes have ridges on the edges. Most blind people have their own system for organizing paper money. When handing someone change, count the money into the person's hand, telling him/her which denomination is on the top or the bottom.
• Signature Guide: Blind people have their own techniques for having you show them where to sign their name. Ask them how they want to be shown.
• Use common sense: Relax, ask if the person needs help, ask how the person needs help.
• Mobility Impaired: Resist the temptation to pat a person in a wheelchair on the head. Do not grab the push handles on a wheelchair and start pushing. It might throw the person off balance. Ask the person if you can assist. Ask the person how to help, remember this person is an expert at this.

Information for Specific Groups

• Servers: tell a blind person when you are putting a plate in front of him/her. Let him/her know when you refill a water glass or coffee cup. The person might be in conversation and not realize you have done this until he/she goes to pick up the cup. If the blind person is absorbed in conversation, it is okay to say "excuse me" or to touch him/her lightly on the shoulder to get his/her attention. Keep the space between tables wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs (36 inches). Keep chairs pushed under tables to keep space clear for visually-impaired to walk through.
• Front desk staff: people will be calling often for room numbers of other participants. Because blind people can't see the blinking lights on their phones, they will also be calling the desk to see if there are messages for them.
• Housekeepers: Return furniture and all objects to their original place after you have cleaned the room. If participants have moved furniture, leave it where they had it. Leave the curtains closed if that is the way the person left them. If there is a dog in the room, be sure you do not let it escape. Do not give the dog food or water. Guide dogs must be on a strict schedule of taking in food and water, so they will also relieve on a schedule. If you find objects on the floor, please put them on dresser or counter so they will be discovered when the participant returns.
• Note: Each group will have questions related to both general interest and also their particular functions. Leave time for questions!

Other considerations

• Acquire the A/V materials needed. Check with Event Chair on current availability.
• Develop any handouts that will help with the presentation.
• Develop script or outline of topics.

Post-Event

• Recommend any indicated revisions to the Hotel Staff Orientation and Training program to the Event Chair.