zoOceanarium Group, a specialist in the new generation of aquarium and zoological facilities, is celebrating St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station’s inclusive hiring policies. The attraction, which is operated by zoOceanarium, is a high-touch, high-interactive aquarium that opened in 2019 as a certified sensory-inclusive facility. In 2020, it was recognized with an Inclusion Award from the Governor’s Council on Disability.
By hiring team members with disabilities, the operations team at the attraction is able to ensure that the local community is fully represented within the aquarium team. In addition, this policy has enabled them to gain critical insights from the personal experiences of these team members, which in turn helps to ensure that the facility is as accessible as possible for all.
The benefits of inclusive hiring
The Aquarium believes that there are three key benefits to be gained from having open, inclusive hiring. Firstly, they are proud to be able to help provide employment for those who may have had difficulty finding work in the past.
Secondly, it means that the operations team is able to gain critical feedback from disabled team members. This allows them to continuously update the attraction in order to make it as accessible as possible for both guests and team members.
Finally, inclusive hiring enables the Aquarium to form a stronger connection with its visitors. Guests with disabilities appreciate seeing those team members being represented within the attraction’s team.
“We began working with MERS Missouri Goodwill in 2020, which helps disabled and rehabilitated workers find employment and acclimates them to their newly hired roles,” explains Jonathan Nevitt, operations manager for the Aquarium.
“These team members work primarily in our guest experience team, which has a wide variety of tasks including ticket sales, touch pool attendants, and docents. There are no tasks within the department that each and every team member is unable to perform. We feel that no matter the ability or skill level of a candidate, as long as you come with a positive attitude with a desire to help people, we have a place for you on our team.”
“The St. Louis Aquarium/MERS Goodwill partnership has been thriving over the last two years,” says Joe Byrne, director of employment services. “The St. Louis Aquarium focuses on the candidates’ strengths and diligently finds their match within their organization. In my experience, the Aquarium has helped participants improve their quality of life and find a sense of belonging within their community. The STL Aquarium is a fun and inclusive environment for all!”
Accessible by design
St Louis Aquarium at Union Station won the Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability’s Annual Inclusion Award in 2020, the year after it opened to the public as a certified sensory-inclusive facility. This is a result of the team’s focus on design and the work it put into to understand how to be the most accessible to guests with sensory needs.
“We continue to work with a universal design committee to ensure continued accessibility throughout our facility,” says the Aquarium’s executive director, Tami Brown. “While much thought went into our design and construction, we feel that is only half of the equation. Our disabled team members have been an invaluable asset to our business when it comes to seeing the true accessibility of our facility.
Elevating the guest experience
The Aquarium has found that committing to inclusive hiring can even elevate the guest experience.
“Our team members see first-hand how our guests move throughout and interact with our aquarium. Based on their observations, as well as their own personal experience, we are able to address any gaps we may have” says Nevitt. “Feedback from our guests has been wonderful. We have had multiple instances of disabled guests, especially children, who have made a strong connection with our team members just by seeing someone who looks like them.”
“The heart of our organization is the connections that we make with our guests,” says Chris Davis of zoOceanarium Group. “By ensuring inclusiveness throughout our team, especially when it comes to those with disabilities, we feel that we are able to create stronger, more meaningful bonds with guests from all backgrounds.”
zoOceanarium Group is dedicated to creating fun and educational experiences through a combination of components that revolve around interactivity and hands-on experiential learning. Its overarching interest is in creating a crossroads between science centres and animal attractions
The company has also taken over operations at the historic Children’s Aquarium Dallas at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The attraction closed during the pandemic but, after a period of transformation, the reimagined Aquarium was brought back to life during the State Fair of Texas in September 2021.
