Monday, December 14, 2009

Students assist wheelchair-bound on a visit to Arima hot spring






The students from the railway service class who hold the “Care Provider – Level 3 Certificate" accompanied a group of wheelchair-bound persons on a trip by train to Arima hot spring.

The Care-Provider is a certification to signify the acquisition of care giving skills and a sense of hospitality to assist elderly people and people with disabilities. This excursion was a good opportunity for them to show what they could do. The students helped the disabled participants on and off trains and elevators, and generally assisted them in moving around.

It was very impressive to see the concern for the disabled shown by the students and the way in which they established a good relationship with them by engaging them in friendly conversation at every opportunity.
The wheelchair-bound participants also had a good time, and commented enthusiastically about the care given by the students. They also said that they would not have been able to make the trip without their help.

Recently, improvements in public transportation facilities and the creation of barrier-free buildings have made it easier for the disabled to venture out, but not all the problems involved in doing so have been solved.
However, even a little help can make excursion like this possible. In addition, this fieldwork gave the students had good opportunity to understand how much difference they could make for the disabled.

Kumiko Yamamoto
Hospitality & Tourism College Osaka

No comments:

Post a Comment