Disney Side-by-Side Journey creates job opportunities for people with disabilities

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) has always placed a strong emphasis on creating a culture that is inclusive and diverse. As an integral part of their corporate social responsibility work, the resort has launched its six-month “Disney Side-by-Side Journey” apprenticeship program to provide job opportunities and vocational training to people with disabilities.

Committed to advancing an inclusive culture

Since launching the program in 2007, HKDL has worked with more than 30 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to identify and hire individuals with disabilities. It then matches them with appropriate jobs and offers continuous assistance throughout their journey to help them integrate into the Disney workforce.

Vivian Chen, director of Learning and Development at HKDL, discussed the diverse cast member backgrounds: “Our cast members come from more than 43 countries and regions, speak 30 languages, and span four generations. We have a balanced gender ratio in our team, and female cast members participate across all levels of work.”

“We value and respect diversity in cultures and values to create an inclusive and diverse work environment,” Chen continued. “There are plenty of opportunities for us to recruit, for example, youth, mature people, people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups and others.”

Easing integration at the workplace

Before beginning their jobs, cast members as part of the program receive training to acquaint themselves with Disney culture and guest service practices. To help apprentices ease into their new roles, HKDL also assigns experienced cast members to them as buddies to lend a helping hand.

The buddies themselves receive training to comprehend the apprentices’ needs and provide more appropriate and tailored guidance and support to facilitate their integration into the HKDL family.

Citing HKDL’s enhanced workplace accessibility as an example, Chen emphasized how crucial it is to create an inclusive atmosphere: “When a new team member has, for example, a hearing impairment or autism, or wheelchair users, we provide appropriate training and enhance our workplace facilities by introducing low-floor cast shuttles and automatic doors, and installing light switches in a lower position.”

More than 320 people with disabilities have been employed under the program over the past years, ranging from front-line jobs to jobs requiring specialized training like hairstylists, makeup artists, stage technicians, and tailors.

Refining human resources management

In addition to emphasizing and supporting the professional advancement of its cast members through a range of learning and career development opportunities, HKDL places high priority on staff wellness. The organization is dedicated to creating a happy work environment for its employees by implementing the ‘Cast First’ and ‘Happy Me, Happy Guest’ approaches.

“Through our approach, we not only incentivize, but also strive to listen to their needs, provide dedicated support and enhance wellness,” Chen said.

“This is why we have further optimized our package of cast benefits to create a family-friendly and inclusive workplace. This includes increasing parental leave entitlement and expanding child bonding leave benefits to all cast members,” she added.

‘Happy Me, Happy Guest’

Buu Cam is a trainee with a hearing impairment. She took part in the Disney Side-by-Side Journey with the assistance of Silence Pak Tin Centre. After completing a six-month training program, she now works in the costuming department where she makes repairs and alterations to clothing. With the help of a foot picker and button sewing machine, she can make or adjust clothing to a precise length.

Buu Cam likes sewing and enjoys her job at HKDL because of the friendly environment and compassionate co-workers. “The job can be quite challenging as there is requirement for a wide variety of costumes,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s not easy to find matching buttons or threads, but my colleagues are more than happy and helpful to help me locate them.”

Opening job opportunities for people with disabilities

Chen is pleased to see that the initiative enables cast members with disabilities to meet their job requirements and take pleasure in their work. She hopes the program will give more cast members access to a more diverse and inclusive work environment.

Those interested in participating in Disney Side-by-Side Journey should be referred by an NGO to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department. The application deadline is March 15.

“We hope to fill more than 40 positions this year and help more people with disabilities find their passion,” said Chen.

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