SERVICE CAN ONLY BE EXCELLENT IF IT’S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

Fully Accessible Barbados (FAB) an initiative of the Barbados Council for the Disabled presented its first set of accreditations to properties and attractions based on their level of accessibility, on Sunday 31^st May 2009 at the Hilton Barbados. Fully Accessible Barbados seeks to recognise initially those properties within the tourism sector that have made their facilities accessible to persons with disabilities including the elderly, persons pushing strollers and other mobility challenges.

As research has forcibly indicated, Inclusive Tourism is a growing and extremely lucrative area in the global arena.  With Barbados offering superior tourism products, we are anxious to ensure that in our region, we lead the way in this field.

Fully Accessible Barbados has been designed to encourage a barrier free environment for all service recipients. The goals of FAB are:

·    To raise the quantity and quality of services available to persons with disabilities.

·    To achieve an all inclusive society, where there is recognition that PWD are potential customers.

·    Encourage the necessary changes in our structural environment to enable persons with disabilities, both visitors and residents, to have access to all facilities.

·    To achieve international standards of access.

·    To attract more visitors to Barbados

The properties awarded were accredited in various levels of accessibility. Facilities can achieve any number of six categories providing they meet the criteria designed for the specific standard. Any business being awarded with the FAB plaque and does not meet all of the six standards can still aim to achieve those after being further reviewed.

‘Universal Design’ which are broad spectrum solutions that produces products and environments that are usable and effective for everyone, not just people with disabilities will appeal to a wide range of consumers and will evidently raise the standards of service delivery and promote Barbados as an inclusive Society.