Houston Airports recently hosted ACI Global Training, the leading airport management and operations education provider, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Open Doors Organization, a nonprofit that focuses on improving the quality of life for people with disabilities for a very important workshop. The organizations collaborated to conduct a  three-day certificate program titled, Accommodating Passengers with Disabilities.

The workshop covers the latest regulatory changes, identifies new technologies and resources, and highlights best practices from airports worldwide. The interactive workshop concluded with a tour of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) that focused on accessible design and technology.

This is a very important workshop that allows airports to better understand how travelers with disabilities function and navigate within the complex airport environment, said Director of Government Relations and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator (ADA) Tim Joniec who helped coordinate the workshop in Houston. “We were happy to serve as the host and gain important feedback on ways to improve our airports.”

The course content included:

• Disability Awareness Module
• Federal regulations (ADA, Section 504, ACAA)
• FAA Airport Disability Compliance Program
• Roles and Responsibilities of ADA Coordinators
• Introduction to ADA Standards for Accessible Design
• Adaptive Information Technology 101
• Airport Best Practices and Innovations
• Latest Resources including ACRP Publications
• Airport accessibility tour

Nineteen individuals received certificates representing airports in the U.S., Mexico, Israel and Nepal