It is officially Festival season in the UK! Whether it is attending big heavy metal festivals or concerts such as Taylor Swift, disability access and reasonable adjustments still apply.
For a disabled person attending a festival or a concert can be made so much more difficult when accessibility is not addressed. Festivals, concerts, theatres, and other events come under the jurisdiction of the Equality Act and therefore it is essential organisers and companies make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people the right to enjoy events the same as any other attendee.
Under the Equality Act 2010 there are many rights and protections for individuals in ensuring services are accessible. This can include reasonable adjustments, indirect discrimination, discrimination policies and practices and harassment from staff. Reasonable adjustments can include, but are not limited to, include allowing personal assistance or companion tickets alongside a disabled access ticket, wheelchair platforms, British Sign Language interpretation, suitable and safe disabled parking and access to clean maintained accessible toilets. Although much of this seems obvious, some festivals and events fall foul of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 therefore discriminating against disabled people.
The Discrimination team at Ringrose Law have a wealth of experience in representing disabled individuals in advocating their rights under the Equality Act 2010 and bringing around positive changes. Cases can include individual cases to large group actions. This can be against ticket sales companies for the lack of accessible tickets, concert and sports facilities for the failure to provide adjustments such as the storage of mobility aids or appropriate accessible seating as well as big festivals for the lack of appropriate facilities and access planning.
At Ringrose Law we are there to support you, if you believe you have suffered discrimination, please contact our discrimination team at 01522 561020 or contact us via our website https://www.ringroselaw.co.uk/equality-questionnaire/