National Disability Employment Awareness Month success story: Cooking Up Success with Hyatt!
In
celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month,
Andrew J. Pepin, executive administrator of the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S.
Department of Education, is pleased to share with you the
following success story: Cooking Up Success with Hyatt!
In Florida, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has been commended for their proactive approach to training, hiring and promoting people with disabilities. Through a partnership with Florida VR and Hands on Education, Inc., the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay developed a two week company based culinary arts training program in June of 1998. The program includes 100 hours of ?hands on? instruction over a two week period. The classes are limited to four students so that each person receives individualized training and support. Students are temporary employees of Hyatt and are paid for all hours during the training.
Hyatt's hands on training program has expanded in Florida to
Orlando, Miami, and Sarasota and recently established new
programs in three Hyatt hotels in the Washington, D.C. area with
the D.C. Rehabilitation Services Administration. Hyatt is not
only helping to train persons with disabilities, but the company
hires graduates of the program and provides references to those
individuals who seek employment opportunities in other culinary
settings. Hyatt also hires people with disabilities in other
areas of the hotel such as customer service, PBX (private branch
exchange phone system), laundry and shipping/receiving. The
company has served as a catalyst for hiring in other service and
tourist related businesses.
There are many Hyatt success stories where individuals have been
hired and have promoted within the company. One trainee, and now
employee, is paraplegic and works as a chef from a stand-up
wheelchair. One of trainees is a PBX operator who happens to be
blind and there are several employees who are deaf now employed
as cooks in various culinary settings. A young graduate from the
D.C. program recently accepted a position as a cook with a
cruise line; he wanted to travel and is now doing so with a
salary of $17.00 per hour and full room and board.
These are just a few of the many positive outcomes that
transpire when VR partners with great companies like Hyatt and
community agencies such as Hands on Education. Although the
training is only two weeks in duration, the experience and
Hyatt's reputation prepares and qualifies graduates for careers
in a variety of settings. More importantly, Hyatt chefs and
human resource professionals are active partners in
employment?acting as trainers and references on the behalf of
students. It is a positive learning experience for students and
Hyatt staff.
In 2007, the Council of State Administrators of Vocational
Rehabilitation honored John Ficca of Hands On Education
Services, Inc., with an award for his partnership with the VR
agencies in developing and growing this important business based
training program with Hyatt. Visit Hands On Education Services,
Inc., for more information about this unique program and
partnership with Hyatt.
To learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness
Month and read more success stories, please visit
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/deam-2009/index.html.
