Assess The Access

25/04/2024

Me and Em were meant to be seeing The Maine tonight in Manchester, as we try to see them every time they come to the UK. But New Century Hall told us (after weeks of trying to contact them) hours before the show that their venue can only accommodate 3 wheelchairs in the building at once, so we can ‘try’ to get a refund but they don’t know.

This is the 3rd time since being a wheelchair user that we have had live music events say last minute that they cannot accommodate us. If a venue said ‘we can only accommodate 3 non-disabled people’ it would be ridiculous, so why aren’t disabled customers seen as being as valuable as non-disabled ones.

So tired of disabled access being an afterthought, or seemingly not a thought at all!

25/07/2022

Last week was the 1 year anniversary of me being discharged from the hospital, after (finally) getting treatment for my Spinal Cord Injury.

So, to celebrate the occasion, I decided to reflect on the last 12 months and share a few of the things I've been up to since leaving Neuro-Rehab.

It's been a busy year, and you can read all about the things I've been up to, via the link below!

In March 2021, I underwent emergency surgery to decompress my spinal cord, as it was being crushed by a herniated disc. After that, I spent an exhausting 4 months in hospital, recovering and relearning how to live. Conveniently, this all happened during a global pandemic which meant I could have ver...

05/07/2022

🏨 Arrived at our hotel ready for with my suitcase 🏨

Had a slight hiccup at check-in, with a miscommunication about the complimentary carer’s room they offer. But we manage to resolve the whole thing pretty quick! 🙌🏻 (although it was a stressful 20 minutes!)

16/06/2022

THIS IS THE REALITY OF ATTENDING LIVE MUSIC EVENTS AS SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY!!

I bought my tickets to this festival well over a year ago; having last gone in 2019, it has been postponed for the last two years, I was all set to go in 20 days' time. However, despite having contacted the festival months ago, with regards to them providing a disabled changing facility, I have just been informed that it’s been ‘a real struggle’ and they’ve made the decision to ‘call it a day on this’.

The immediate solution they suggested was to give me a refund on my ticket (note they didn’t ask me whether I wanted to go forwards with that or not). I have emailed them back to request they hold off on the refund, whilst I try to problem solve on my end. It sucks that disabled access isn’t a priority for events like these and has ultimately caused me to be angry at myself, for being disabled. No event should make people feel this way!

Firstly, I understand that things like the pandemic and Brexit, can affect the availability of event facilities. HOWEVER, let’s say, an event couldn’t hire any portaloos for able-bodied people, would everyone who needed access to a toilet be told ‘we’ve had to call it a day on this’ and that their tickets would be refunded? It comes down to the fact that including disabled people in spaces, like this, isn’t a priority and us missing out on things is ‘no big deal’ 🤷🏼‍♀️

Secondly, as someone with Autism, having an unexpected change to a plan that has been set in stone for so long, is incredibly unsettling. For the last few months, I have been counting down the days until the 6th of July (when I was meant to arrive at the Festival). So, to receive this email, less than 3 weeks before the event, you can imagine how difficult it’s been to process.

As you can see, from the image, I was (kindly 🙄) offered a free ticket next year, IF they secure a changing space. This does not, in any way, compensate for me being pushed out of the festival. Having worked as a music journalist, prior to being a wheelchair user, free tickets are provided to LOADS of people. It’s nothing special.

Being a disabled person is already an isolating experience, so being made to feel like such an inconvenience (simply for having access needs), only highlights how performative accessibility is.

Simply providing disabled people with a free carers ticket, is NOT enough, to be regarded as an inclusive event for disabled people.

It seems that once your disability means that an organisation has to ACTUALLY do something to accommodate you, you are no longer seen as a valued customer and more of a problem that needs to be excluded from the space.