Introduction:
Over the past twenty years a new generation of people with disabilities has come of age. The historic passage of the “Americans with Disabilities Act” and the adoption of similar laws around the globe have encouraged people with disabilities to travel and enjoy public activities in greater numbers than ever before.
It is no secret, however, that despite the ADA, there is still much work to be done, particularly when it comes to providing customer service to people with disabilities. There is often a huge gap between a willingness to provide service and the expertise, or “comfort level” in doing so.
Kaleidoscope Connections LLC was initially formed to address this very issue. Public demand requires even more. “Connecting” people with disabilities to those with out is simple really. It’s about creating opportunities to reach out to one another and look for ways to share stories, experiences, and knowledge. With that, attitudinal barriers are reduced fostering better understanding and increased comfort levels amongst all concerned. We like to think of this as a kaleidoscope of change. The benefits of such a change are innumerable.
Kaleidoscope Connections is your resource for bringing people together to help promote disability awareness through:
| Who We Are...
Founded by Connie Kuusisto and her husband Steve Kuusisto, Kaleidoscope Connections LLC offers programs to promote employee awareness and customer service for people with disabilities.
Stephen Kuusisto is the author of two books about blindness: Planet of the Blind and Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening. He has traveled and lectured widely about disability both in the U.S. and in Europe. He has appeared on National Public Radio; The Oprah Winfrey Show; Dateline; A&E; BBC; Voice of America; Animal Planet; and has written about disability for The New York Times and Harper’s Magazine. Steve is a professor of disability studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Connie Kuusisto has worked for over twenty years in the world of guide dogs and their blind partners. She has served as director of admissions at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, one of the premier guide dog training programs in the United States. She has given workshops on customer service for people with disabilities at Sandals and Beaches resorts in Jamaica and has worked with a wide range of businesses to promote disability awareness.
Eric Gnezda is the founder and director of Gnezda Communications and has worked extensively in the disability community for over twenty five years. He has provided programs for “The Special Olympics” and the hospice care field. His keynote presentations and focus groups promote diversity with new ideas, humor, and warmth. |
