Training a service dog and other ways to support inclusion

December 1, 2023

4 Min read

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Axel Mueller

Director EMEA and Global Accounts

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The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) is an opportunity for each of us.

The day aims to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities, while also raising awareness of the challenges they face. IDPWD serves as an opportunity to mobilize support for the inclusion of people with disabilities and to raise awareness of the importance of acting as an ally to people with disabilities.

This is an opportunity we work to seize, every day, here at Amadeus. Beyond offering equal opportunities for all, we want to ensure Amadeus is a place where everyone can feel at home and be their best.

During 2022, for example, Amadeus participated in several school outreach programs in France to mentor students with disabilities and promote employment. Our accessibility teams also built internal awareness of the importance of inclusion through awareness sessions, coaching and the annual internalDigital Accessibility Forum to promote inclusive and accessible software development.

At our offices in France, we have launched the Diversity & Inclusion Ambassadors’ Network, with a focus on disability inclusion in the workplace. Today, the network consists of 33 employees with the purpose of supporting their disabled colleagues, facilitating dialogue and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives.

These are steps in the right direction, and they led me to believe that Amadeus would also support a project I was interested in.

Future Service Dog

Like many of us, my kids have often asked if we could have a dog. Moreover, as any parent, I understand the allure of having a furry companion. But, as a family, we were hesitant to commit to a pet for over a decade. However, we found a meaningful compromise that not only fulfilled my childhood dream of having a dog, but also allowed us to make a significant contribution to a great cause.

We adopted Uzès, a three-month-old golden retriever puppy and a future service dog.

Uzès has become an integral part of our family in such a short space of time. Our plan is to raise and train him for the next ten months, before he moves to service dog school full-time, where he will be prepared to support a visually impaired person.

One of the unique aspects of Uzès' training is that he is not just learning to be a service dog; he is also being taught how to behave in a professional office environment. To my delight, Amadeus fully embraced this initiative and allowed me to bring Uzès to our offices in Sophia Antipolis.

Training Uzès comes with its own set of challenges, the most significant being the need for my colleagues to respect the golden rule of having a guide dog in the office: ignore him. While I understand that resisting the urge to pet this adorable pup is difficult, it’s essential to ensure Uzès can focus on his job, which is to support his future owner.

This journey would not have been possible without the backing of Amadeus, especially our People & Culture team. Its support is testament to the company’s commitment to fostering greater independence and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. It’s an honor to make a small contribution to this vital cause. In the office, I often see people smiling at Uzès and enquiring about our program. It has been a truly enriching experience for everyone involved.

Les Chiens Guides

The organization I am working with, Les Chiens Guides d'Aveugles de Provence Côte d'Azur, is a non-profit that is part of the national French guide dog association. Its goal is to raise, educate, and donate around 20 service dogs per year, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of visually impaired individuals.

For Uzès and me, our training has been primarily training-on-the-job. We have a dedicated coach from the association who assists with Uzès' pre-education, covering the basics that any dog should learn. This early education sets the foundation for the higher education that guide dogs undergo.

Our coach visits us regularly at home, and we also have joint city walks in Nice. Additionally, there are group sessions throughout the year with other host families, which provide valuable insights and shared experiences.

As for the future, when Uzès goes full-time to the training school, he will still come back to us for the weekends until he is handed over to his future owner. My hope is to inspire someone else at Amadeus to become the next guide dog trainee host family. The organization is continually seeking host families like us to support this worthy cause.

This journey has been a remarkable experience, and I look forward to the months ahead as we continue to train and prepare Uzès for his important role as a guide dog.

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