The project
The Tour Fr(i)end project – Friendly Redesign of Inclusive Experiences N’ Destinations for Deaf people – aims to promote inclusion and enrich career opportunities for young deaf and hard-of-hearing people by developing the use of international sign language in tourism.
Context
The Tour Fr(i)end project aims to bring together the difficulties faced by young Europeans (aged 15-24) in finding a job (over 15% of them are unemployed, according to the EESC’s 2019 report), the dynamism of the tourism sector, which employed over 12.7 million people in Europe in 2018, and a tourism offer that is accessible to deaf people that is very limited, or even non-existent. The report “Tourism activities of Deaf people” (2013) reveals that the biggest barrier faced by deaf people is the lack of sign language in the vast majority of places to visit.
We therefore saw a double opportunity: to promote the inclusion of deaf and hearing impaired people in the tourism sector, by making young professionals aware of national and international sign languages and improving reception and visiting conditions, and to make young deaf people aware of the employment opportunities offered by the tourism sector.
Objectives
The main objectives are to promote the social inclusion of deaf people and accessible tourism, to support young people in the acquisition and development of basic and key skills in this field and to strengthen the skills of junior trainers, coaches, guidance counsellors and professionals involved.
This project was set up following the findings of several studies revealing the number of deaf people and the limited opportunities they have when it comes to travelling.
Targets
Tour Friend is aimed at young deaf adults and professionals in the tourism sector to promote accessible tourism.
Resources
Methodological guide
A guide to understanding the objectives and perspectives of the project.
Guide for trainers
A guide for trainers on the basics of the tourism industry and the use of serious games.
Basic Skills Guide
A guide to learning basic skills for people working in tourism.
Digital learning manual
Ebook for learning basic phrases in international sign languages and signs in the field of tourism
Serious game Tour Friend
An educational game to test your skills and communicate with sign language.
Les partenaires
Citizens in Power
CIP is a non-profit, non-governmental organization in Cyprus, that responds to the needs and demands of the population through its engagement in social and civic life, providing innovative content and free training in the field of education (including online), inclusion, labor market and continuing education.
Logopsycom
As a center for educational innovation, Logopsycom creates and uses alternative methods or tools (digital or not) to support schools, vocational training centers, educational organizations, youth and parents. The center is specialized in learning disorders in young people, especially in “dys” disorders (dyspraxia, dysphasia, dyslexia…).
