The Royal Board on Disability (Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad) is a public institution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The RPD is composed by representatives of the Ministries involved in disability issues and regional governments. Organizations representing disabled persons and their families, scientific institutions and experts, also take part in this institution. Her Majesty the Queen Sofía is Honorary President of the Royal Board on Disability.

Its mission is to encourage prevention of impairments, rehabilitation and social integration of persons with disabilities, and to facilitate, in these fields, collaboration among entities, associations and private sector. Besides, it aims to provide support to specialists and organizations through studies, research, documentation and training.

With the collaboration and coordination of Polibea Turismo a three-day Accessible Tourism Training Course has been organized and will be given at Spanish Tourism Colleges . The Course aims to provide knowledge, tools and training about disability awareness and accessible tourism to these students who soon will be working staff in the tourism industry. From this trained staff equality of opportunity for disabled people in the enjoyment of travel and leisure activities will outcome.

The three-day Course programme is as follows:

SESSION I
Introduction.
Accessible Tourism: the concept.
Practical Training
Serving clients with disabilities

SESSION II
Accessibility to the tourist environment
Architecture
Urban development and town planning
Transport
Norms and regulations related to accessibility.
Technical aid equipment

SESSION III
Organizing accessible tourist activities
Information sources about accessible tourism
Conclusions
The course will be given at the following Colleges in October:

ZARAGOZA.
Escuela Universitaria Turismo de Zaragoza
Plaza del Ecce Homo, 3.
50003 Zaragoza

BURGOS
Escuela Universitaria De Turismo
Avenida Cantabria 31
09006 Burgos
Tel: 947 211 302
www.escuelaturismoburgos.com

PONFERRADA.
Escuela de Turismo de Ponferrada
Rañadero,5
Ponferrada, El Bierzo, León
Tel: 987 41 42 38
http://www.esturismoponferrada.com

ALCALA DE HENARES.
Escuela Universitaria de Turismo de la Universidad de Alcalá
Edificio Multidepartamental
C/ Cifuentes 28
19003 Guadalajara
Tel: 949 20 96 14

LOGROÑO
Universidad La Rioja
Escuela de Turismo
Quintiliano, 5 - 7
26005 Logroño
Tel: 941 25 73 72

IBIZA.
Escola de Turisme del Consell Insular d'Eivissa-Formentera
Edifici Polivalent
Cas Serres, s/n
Eivissa

Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad
Serrano, 140. 28006 Madrid - España
Tel.: +34 91 7452444 - Fax: +34 91 4115502
E-mail: sgrealpatronato@mtas.es
www.rpd.es

Rebecca Arce