Inclusion isn't a policy. It's an experience.

Practical consultancy, staff education and strategic recommendations that help businesses become more welcoming, inclusive and accessible.

WHY CHOOSE THE VSP PROGRAMME?

The VSP Programme is about more than accessibility—it's about understanding people.

Every day, businesses welcome customers, visitors and colleagues who may be autistic, have ADHD, Down syndrome or other additional needs. Often, the biggest barrier isn't the environment—it's simply a lack of understanding.

Through practical consultancy and staff training, the VSP Programme gives your team the confidence to better understand different communication styles, sensory needs and ways of supporting every customer with empathy and respect.

Benefits for Your Business

• Create a more welcoming and inclusive customer experience

• Build staff confidence through practical training

• Better understand autism, ADHD, Down syndrome and additional needs

• Improve communication and customer service

• Support families, adults and individuals with different needs

• Strengthen your reputation as an inclusive business

• Encourage positive customer experiences and repeat visits

• Learn from lived experience combined with hospitality expertise

Understanding changes everything.
Small changes can make a lasting difference—for your customers, your staff and your business.

YOUR INCLUSION CONSULTANT FOR HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

RHONA CULLINAN
Founder, VSP Programme
Inclusion Consultant & Special Needs Advocate

For over a decade, Rhona has worked at the forefront of advocacy for families with additional needs - as an online advocate sharing her own personal journey and struggles, a speaker at conferences across Ireland, and a regular contributor on Ireland AM, RTÉ Afternoon Show and international podcasts.

She's also a mum to children with Autism, Asperger's and Down syndrome. That's not a footnote — it's why her consultancy work is different.

She's lived the reality of trying to access services, book a table, or simply feel welcome as a family. She knows exactly where the gap sits between good intentions and genuine inclusion. Rhona brings both sides of the table: the lived experience of a special needs parent, and the practical, commercial understanding of a business owner. The result is consultancy that's actionable, not theoretical — small changes, real impact, no unnecessary complexity.

SMALL CHANGES - BIG IMPACT!

"The VSP Programme has given our team a greater understanding of what genuine inclusion really looks like. The practical changes have been simple to implement, but the impact on both our staff and our customers has been invaluable. We're proud to create a more welcoming environment where every guest feels understood and valued."

— Harry's Italian Restaurant, Terenure

Inclusion Consultancy & Training Services for Hotels, Restaurants & the Hospitality Industry

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL

Experience & Recognition

* Founder of the VSP (Very Special Person) Programme

* Special Needs Advocate and Inclusion Consultant

* National TV & Radio Contributor, including Ireland AM, RTÉ Afternoon Show, The Pat Kenny Show and local radio

* International Podcast Guest

* Conference Speaker, Workshop Facilitator & Public Speaker

* Author of "Look Good Feel Good"

* Woman's Way Inspirational Mother of the Year 2019

* Trusted by Families, Community Organisations and Businesses Across Ireland

Every hotel is different, and every hotel is at a different stage of its inclusion journey.

The VSP Programme offers practical inclusion consultancy designed to help hotels create a more welcoming and understanding experience for families and guests with additional needs.

My approach is simple: I visit your hotel, experience it through the eyes of a family like mine, identify what is already working well and look at where small, realistic changes could make a difference.

VSP CONSULTANCY VISIT

I visit your hotel and walk through the guest experience from arrival to departure, looking at areas such as:

• Reception and arrival
• Bedrooms and family accommodation
• Restaurants, bars and menus
• Communication and signage
• Sensory considerations
• Quiet spaces
• Leisure facilities and swimming pools
• Play areas and family facilities
• The overall guest journey

Following the visit, I meet with your manager or management team.

We discuss what is already working well, where there may be barriers for families with additional needs, and the practical changes I would recommend specifically for your hotel.

This isn't about completely changing how your hotel operates.

Often, it's the smallest changes that can have the biggest impact.

OPTIONAL VSP FAMILY EXPERIENCE & FEATURE

Once changes have been introduced, I can return for a stay with my own children to experience the hotel as a family.

This gives me the opportunity to see the changes in action, identify what's working particularly well and provide further feedback on anything that could still be improved.

But this visit isn't just about feedback.

It's also an opportunity to showcase the work your hotel has done.

Following our stay, I will create and share content across my social media platforms documenting our experience and highlighting the inclusive changes that have been introduced.

This can include:

• A full feature/blog sharing our family experience
• Social media content from our stay
• Highlighting the inclusive changes your hotel has implemented
• Sharing the experience with my community of families and followers
• Recognition of the work your team has put into making positive changes
• Where appropriate, outreach to relevant local media to explore potential coverage of your inclusion journey

The purpose is to show families what inclusion actually looks like in practice — not simply tell them that a hotel is inclusive.

STAFF TRAINING

Staff training can also be added where required, helping teams build greater understanding and confidence when welcoming guests with additional needs.

Training can include autism, Down syndrome, neurodiversity, sensory needs, communication differences, supporting non-speaking guests and an introduction to basic Lámh signs.

THE VSP APPROACH

Educate. Build understanding and confidence.

Inspire. Help create a culture where every guest feels genuinely welcome.

Empower. Give teams practical tools they can use every day.

Small changes. Big impact. Everyone belongs.

CONTACT ME

EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE CHANGES HAVE IMPLEMENTED

PICTURE MENUS

Providing non-speaking VSPs with a visual representation of menu options will enable them to make independent choices about their meals.

Each picture is the actual portion of food on the actual plates they are being served on so they know what to expect. Each item is available in adult or child portions

CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY

VSPs will be able to choose from a selection of items on the menu to suit their personal needs (e.g., sausages and nuggets with no chips). This empowers them to participate in the dining experience without judgement.

SIMPLIFIED COMMUNICATION

Introducing a poster featuring basic sign language phrases into the staff area will facilitate communication with non-speaking VSPs who use this form of sign language.

SENSORY FRIENDLY COMMUNICATIONS

Chefs will be instructed to avoid adding garnish or parsley to dishes and to utilise larger plates to prevent foods from touching, minimising sensory overload for anyone with sensitivities.

FAMILIAR FOOD OPTIONS

Fast food-style chicken nuggets and plain food options will be added to the menu where possible, providing a familiar and reassuring food choice. This will depend on venues menu.

PRIORITISING VSPS

Prioritising table reservations for special needs families reduces wait times, easing stress for VSPs who may struggle with crowds.

Preordering food can also streamline the dining experience. A designated table sign will indicate priority status discreetly, respecting individuals with invisible disabilities.

SOCIAL STORIES

On the website, families will be able to view a video of a walk through of the venue prior to their arrival, which will help to prepare VSPs for the dining/hotel experience, reducing anxiety and promoting a smoother transition.

FEED BACK CHANNEL

Implementing a feedback channel will allow families to share their experiences, enabling the campaign to continuously improve and adapt to evolving needs.

Harry’s Italian Restaurant: Leading the Way with the VSP Programme

We are beyond thrilled to announce that in 2025 Harry’s Italian Restaurant in Terenure, is the very first restaurant in Ireland to fully embrace the VSP Programme!

This incredible milestone marks a huge step towards creating a more inclusive and accessible dining experience for families with additional needs. From the moment we introduced the VSP initiative, the team at Harry’s Italian didn’t hesitate - they welcomed it with open arms and a genuine commitment to making a difference.

They understand that small, thoughtful changes can have a huge impact on families who often struggle with everyday outings due to sensory sensitivities, long wait times, and overwhelming environments.