Laughology is a serious subject and so is the importance of attitude when dealing with disabled people. In this session Stephanie Davies, who created Laughology, talks about the F of FLIP. It stands for focus. Too often people focus on what you can’t do such as walking, seeing or hearing. If a member of staff sees someone with a disability they might feel sorry for them. However, that person might be lucky to have had a narrow escape and they have already been told they will make a full recovery. They are looking at a positive outcome. Stephanie recommends we always focus on the positive with disability and focus on what people can do.

Browse Coffee Time Chats
To see details of a chat, please click the title.
Introduction to Laughology 3 – Focus (CT37)
(Subscribers Only)
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: General Making a deaf person welcome (CT21)
(Subscribers Only)
In this coffee time chat we look at how to welcome a deaf person and the best ways of communicating with them. For example having a specific welcome letter, communicating clearly, writing things down and using hands. There is an added benefit in that the welcome letter could be translated into other languages for guests that don’t speak English.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Hearing Loss Reduced Visual Acuity (CT29)
(Subscribers Only)
There is one video in this section using Simspecs to show what a person with reduced visual acuity will see. This is a short video sequence with just three questions so you could put CT 29 and 30 together to make a ten minute training session. There are four video sequences showing different eye conditions. The aim is to show that most blind people see something but it can still be very difficult for them to see where they are going and not falling over things.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Visual Impairment Retinal Degeneration (CT28)
(Subscribers Only)
There is one video in this section using Simspecs to show what a person with retinal degeneration will see. This is a short video sequence with just one question so you could put CT 27 and 28 together to make a ten minute training session. There are four video sequences showing different eye conditions. The aim is to show that most blind people see something but it can still be very difficult for them to see where they are going and not falling over things.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Visual Impairment Severe loss of vision giving light transmission only (CT30)
(Subscribers Only)
There is one video in this section using Simspecs to show what a person with a severe loss of vision giving light transmission only will see. This is a short video sequence with just three questions so you could put CT 29 and 30 together to make a ten-minute training session. There are four video sequences showing different eye conditions. The aim is to show that most blind people see something but it can still be very difficult for them to see where they are going and not falling over things.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Visual Impairment The Business Case 2 (CT2)
(Subscribers Only)
This is the second coffee time chat that looks at the value of the market for disabled guests. It features Ross Calladine, Business Support Manager at Visit England who is responsible for attracting more disabled people to England. He also talks about what he would do if he had a magic wand.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: General The Business Case 3 (CT3)
(Subscribers Only)
In this training session we are looking at the potential of visitors from overseas and the size of the market worldwide. It shows the market opportunity for your business and why this training is so important as happy disabled guests are likely to return again and possibly again with more members of the family.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: General The Equality Act 1 (CT4)
(Subscribers Only)
This coffee time chat introduces The Equality Act which is the legislation that currently deals with discrimination for a variety of groups including disabled people. It shows how using respect and common sense you can avoid most issues including adverse publicity that could ruin the business you work in.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Legal The Equality Act 2 (CT5)
(Subscribers Only)
This coffee time chat looks at The Equality Act and what might be the results of a claim against your business. This could be incurred costs like solicitor’s fees and court damages but perhaps the biggest issue is adverse publicity. It is conceivable that the costs and poor PR could be hundreds of thousands of pounds and loss of business could bankrupt or ruin your business.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Legal The Equality Act 3 (CT6)
(Subscribers Only)
Pam Kenworthy, Legal Director, from Howells LLP, continues her interview with AccessChamp by outlining some examples of what might be potential discrimination such as a breast feeding mother. This is a good opportunity to consider what might happen if this occurred in your business.
Departments: Reception, Conference and Banqueting, Concierge and Porter, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Accesschamp
Subjects: Legal