Woodland Park Zoo

The Woodland Park Zoo will provide specialized training for zoo staff and volunteer mentors to design an inclusive volunteer program and remove access barriers for individuals with disabilities. The zoo will work with an advisory council composed of disability partner organizations and community members to provide expert guidance on the creation of an accessible and inclusive environment, the development of a training manual, modifications to institutional volunteer policies and procedures, and the recruitment of volunteers. A newly hired inclusion coordinator will develop and conduct a series of trainings for zoo staff and volunteers. The sustainable inclusive training model created through this project will be applicable to other cultural organizations attempting to reduce barriers for participation for all audiences and expand their volunteer programs.