John Jennings

Review of Buxton Opera House

Discrimination regarding Visible and Non Visible d...

Discrimination regarding Visible and Non Visible disability.

I write this review tonight quite upset after speaking to Andy Watts in the Box office.

I am a wheelchair user and have used the Opera House many times over the years and buy tickets with a carer ticket given. We have been asked to take letters in previously for myself and our autistic children so they can keep it on their system when buying tickets as evidence seen.

Tonight this is not the case according to Mr. Watts.

I hate the idea of writing a review without speaking to someone in authority at the Opera House but they operate a closed system in which you cannot speak to a senior member of the team and raise points, as I was told the usual cliche 'I can put it in writing". A faceless system I pointed out, and quite a non positive outcome producing scenario.

One of my children is going tonight to see a show and I have had to find her PIP letter out at the last minute. I rang and queried this and said that we are on the system and evidence has been shown.

I was advised that evidence has to be produced every time! I pointed out that I as a wheelchair haven't had to do this at every show, many over the years, but was advised its a non changeable policy adhered to all the time its and 'always been policy'. I disagreed and delved further.

Apparently if you are in a wheelchair it is left down to staff to decide if they need to see evidence of disability/benefit for the carers ticket. (Thats never been the case with me in my wheelchair). The shows are staffed by Volunteers and many good people whom have to operate in such a grey area of inequality.

I tried to point out that this is grossly unfair on people with non visible disabilities and especially after already taking evidence to the Opera House. (Why they needed to see it, and what they did with the copy that was taken I do not know). I explained that if I was asked to show evidence to the box office it couldn't be done as its not wheelchair accessible.

I am as a wheelchair user including myself in the review that if Autistic people or other people with non visible disabilities are to be subjected to having to produce evidence EVERYTIME they visit a show, then so should I or anyone else in a wheelchair.

I have been to the airport many time and seen people 'in wheelchairs' at check in, then run to the plane (no chair or support needed and then ask for a supporter to get through quicker at the destination) and this is wrong. I know the Entertainment industry is a different sector but what is stopping a similar person abusing the system by not being asked to provide evidence just because they use a wheelchair.

I tried and tried tonight to ask Andy to see it from the outside as a whole encompassing system, but I failed. He did let the word 'VISIBLE' slip which I pinned out and that is my point, just because I or anyone is visibly using a wheelchair, I do not expect the Opera House staff treat me as a separate category of disability and thus having a separate less intrusive qualifying procedure (for want of a better word) that other non visible disabled people have to go through every time they want to see a show.

If large arenas can treat disabled people equally then so should the Opera House. Maybe the Access scheme card could work a more equal system. All I ask is to look at the wider picture and treat us all as equals whether visibly disabled, non visible disability or able bodied.