2018-02-02
The complainant, who has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair, attended an event as part of a festival. She claimed a friend enquired about the accessibility of the venue and was informed it was accessible. The complainant claimed she was unable to access the venue independently, safely and with dignity for a number of reasons, including that there was a step leading to the lift, the lift was a goods lift that could not be operated independently, there was a step on the way to the accessible toilet and the accessible toilet could not be locked.
Festival organisers confirmed the performance space was not wheelchair accessible and said the complainant’s friend had been informed of this, in accordance with information on the festival’s website. Festival organisers said attempts were made to provide access because the complainant’s friend was very keen to explore ways the complainant could attend.
The complaint was resolved. Festival organisers apologised to the complainant for her experience and for any miscommunication that led her to believe the venue was wheelchair accessible. Festival organisers advised a three-year Disability Action Plan was under development. The Disability Action Plan would include a review of access across the festival’s digital and print platforms, more stringent access requirements for festival venues, the creation of an access advisory group involving people with a lived experience of disability, a review of access for its performers, and annual disability awareness training for core staff.
Year
Discrimination type
Disability Discrimination Act
Grounds
Disability
Areas
Access to premises
Goods, services and facilities
Apology
Disability Action Plan developed
Amount