The Access Tourism Network has a membership of enterprises around Europe which were established specifically to train or employ disabled people in the sector of travel and tourism. Such enterprises include small hotels, travel agencies and small holiday companies, for example. To date, when we refer to people with disabilities in travel and tourism, it is often assumed that we mean physical accessibility to buildings. But people with disabilities, not just physical disabilities, also have much to offer the world of employment, and this is an area that has not yet been sufficiently highlighted or given the appropriate support to help resolve at least a proportion of the labour shortages that are currently being experienced by this industry. Schizophrenia, manic-depression, anxiety states, dementia, eating and personality disorders are some of the mental illnesses of which people are aware, but do not necessarily understand.
Mental illness can affect anyone.
The Mental Health Foundation states that one in four adults experience mental health problems during their lifetime. This may be because of a genetic reason such as Down's Syndrome or a problem at birth. Operated by Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust, the Network started in January 1998 and is funded with a European Social Fund 'Horizon' grant. Horizon' funding was related to employment for people with disabilities and applications needed to be innovative and illustrate transnational relevance to succeed, both criteria met by Access Tourism. The project will continue past the end of European funding.