Enriching Hospitality Through Disability Etiquette: Launch of Shumool Training
The Butterfly is proud to continue its journey of fostering inclusion within the hospitality sector with the launch of the second year of Shumool Training on Enhancing Customer Experience and Accessibility, delivered in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT).
The opening session was hosted at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl on 25 August, welcoming around 30 participants from across the hospitality industry — including front desk, concierge, and guest relations staff.
The training was facilitated by Mishiel Ayub (Project Manager) and Chris C. Dimal (Communications Associate), who guided participants through the fundamentals of disability, accessibility, and equity. Using interactive discussions and real-world examples, they highlighted the importance of inclusive hospitality, shared key statistics, and unpacked the nuances of disability in guest-facing settings.
Attendees also explored disability etiquette and communication practices, working through scenarios covering a wide spectrum of disabilities — from blindness to neurodiversity. The session concluded with a showcase of assistive technologies that empower People of Determination and enrich guest experiences.
The workshop was lively, activity-filled, and engaging, leaving participants with practical insights they had not encountered elsewhere.
Building on this strong start, The Butterfly and DCT will be delivering Shumool Training sessions across Abu Dhabi from September through November, equipping hospitality professionals with the knowledge and skills to ensure every guest feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
The Butterfly team and attendees standing in front of a presentation screen showing the IEE Butterfly logo after the Shumool Training Session
Another Exciting Session with the Kids through the ‘Elevate Dreams’ Event
The Butterfly hosted its second ever Kids Club Play Day in collaboration with WonderTree, a platform offering augmented reality games for children of determination at Balanced Mind Abilities Developmental Center in Abu Dhabi on 2nd August. This marks our continuation to enhance and empower our community through the new Community Partner Program, which builds partnerships to enhance the lives of People of Determination and foster inclusion.
The children enjoyed WonderTree’s games based on Augmented Reality (AR), which balance fun with building cognitive, behavioral and motor skills. We hosted 15 kids and 12 parents along with 2 volunteers from Serco, who also graciously sponsored this wonderful event. It was also a great way for parents to find connection and companionship, vital for building a stronger and interconnected community.
The highlight rounding off the event was that two lucky children won a 1-year subscription to continue accessing WonderTree games. It was an engaging event for the children and showcases our continued commitment to link up various stakeholders for the betterment of the community around us.
Attendees and the Butterfly team posing together for a photo holding logos of Serco and The Butterfly at the Balanced Minds Center
Career Catalyst Series: Assistive Technology for Visual Impairment
On 26 August, The Butterfly hosted the latest Career Catalyst Series session, delivered online by Mishiel Ayub for People of Determination in our community. The session focused on assistive technology for visual impairment and blindness, with live demonstrations on how to use Windows’ built-in accessibility features such as Narrator, Magnifier, high-contrast modes, and speech-to-text tools.
Participants were able to explore these features in real time and gain practical knowledge to enhance digital access and independence. For further information, Microsoft provides detailed guidance on accessibility tools here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows
The Career Catalyst Series continues to equip People of Determination with skills and resources to support their career journeys.
A Flashback to the IEE Member Spotlight:
The Inclusive Employment Ecosystem (IEE) is the first-of-its-kind employment business network in the UAE, featuring a host of organizations of all levels and fields, from government to private, banking to educational, among others for inclusion. Through the IEE and its various resources and events, organizations are getting enriched and ready to foster inclusivity and hire People of Determination.
The IEE Member Spotlight is a video series serving to highlight the benefits of the IEE to our members as well as what they are up to in the sphere of inclusion. We would like to share with you all the video we did with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, featuring Sara AlMheiri, the Programs & Community Outreach Coordinator there. Passionate and engaging in community outreach and advocacy for people living with MS. Watch to find out how inclusion is powerful in providing opportunities and how The Butterfly and the IEE aids in striving towards an inclusive society for all.
Video below:
https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7305235804883214336?compact=1
W3C website