Thinley Namgay

As of yesterday, 985 individuals from various sectors have participated in Disability Equality Training (DET) conducted by the Disabled Peoples’ Organization of Bhutan (DPOB) over the years.

This includes 17 hoteliers from Thimphu, Punakha, and Wangdue who completed the training yesterday in Thimphu.

DET is one of the primary activities of the DPOB to raise awareness about persons with disabilities.

Yesterday’s training highlights the DPOB’s commitment to promoting equality and accessibility by equipping hotel owners and key industry stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary for fostering a more inclusive society.

Given the growth of the hotel industry in Bhutan, the training encouraged participants to explore employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and learn how to make their hotels more user-friendly.

Sessions covered essential topics such as understanding various disabilities, practical strategies for creating inclusive environments, and raising awareness within the hospitality industry.

Persons with disabilities shared their experiences, offering insights into the benefits of inclusive employment and strategies for implementing changes in workplaces and communities.

One of the concerns shared  by the persons with disabilities is that the Bhutanese in general are kind for persons with disabilities, but there were  instances where people neglect them due to unconscious biases which hinders their representation  in many aspects of  life such as policy making. 

Participants expressed concerns that their voices are often excluded when laws affecting persons with disabilities are formulated, resulting in significant policy gaps.

Despite having the necessary skills, individuals with disabilities often struggle to find jobs due to prevailing perceptions that they are unfit for work.

Accessibility is a critical issue, as many public facilities are not designed to accommodate persons with disabilities. While several hotels rated three stars and above have lift systems, many government offices lack such facilities to accommodate persons using wheelchairs.

Dorji Phuntsho, media officer with the DPOB and a person with albinism, highlighted the importance of treating individuals with disabilities like everyone else. “Disability is just a condition. Deaf individuals can perform many of the same jobs as their non-disabled peers,” he said.

He urged society to avoid labels and stereotypes, stressing that everyone possesses unique talents and skills.

Dorji Phuntsho said that disability can occur to anyone at any time and it is important to help each other. “It is crucial to improve the environment for persons with  disabilities to ensure equal participation in the society.”

According to the national health survey of 2023, 6.8 percent of the Bhutanese population lives with some form of disability.

The DPOB’s programme officer Tharpa Dema said that  financial constraint is the primary challenge for the organisation. She also said that there is no exact data on persons with disabilities in the country.     

Hoteliers present at the training said that some of the hotels have already recruited persons with disabilities which they said is a positive trend to ensuring inclusive society. However, they identified a lack of sign language interpreters as a barrier to employing deaf individuals, although they noted that written communication can bridge this gap.

During the training, DPOB also awarded certificates to 16 persons with disabilities including nine persons with deafness, two hard of hearing, three low vision and two  with physical disabilities for  completing  two-month hotel management training organised by the DPOB and  the Bhutan Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (BITH).

The initiative , supported by Helvetas Bhutan and the European Union, aimed to promote inclusion, create employment opportunities, and enhance the independence of persons with disabilities in Bhutan.

Karma Lhamo from the BITH said that the trainees were given essential skills such as housekeeping, cleaning, and bed making. They also completed internships at reputed hotels like Aman Kora, Pemako, Six Senses and Le Meridien.   

To date, DPOB has trained 250 individuals with disabilities, but many still face challenges in securing jobs despite their skills.