SOCIAL SPACES. There are a number of examples. Being a student, the main ones I would have frequented and worried about would be bars and nightclubs. AKA, some of the least accessible places in the world.
What most people don't take into account with lack of access is the emotional and psychological toll it can take on a disabled person. Imagine going into a space and realizing very quickly that it is absolutely not designed with you in mind; immediately, you feel uncomfortable.
Whether it's having to ask someone to open a heavy door, or awkwardly peering over the bar counter to try and catch someones attention, or realizing there's no suitable bathroom so you know you're already on a time limit; or, you could risk an injury trying to fit in a cubicle
I had the privilege of attending Pink Training nearly 2 weekends ago to deliver a workshop on access to LGBT+ social spaces as someone with a disability. I asked people to consider what access truly meant, so I'll ask the same of you all:
What does "accessible" mean to you?
There have been some wonderful examples so far! How I describe access is truly nitty gritty, because the reality is disabled people have to be meticulous when they plan to go anywhere.
When I think access, I first go to public transport. Is there any nearby? How far is the nearest bus stop or accessible taxi rank? Will the accessible taxi work late enough? (In Dundalk, the only one in town finishes at 6pm)
What are the paths like? Will my wheelchair hit a crack in the path when it's dark and I've had a few drinks that will mean it tips over? Is there enough dips in the path that will allow me to cross the road safely if I have to? And that's before I even get in somewhere!
So now we've jumped through potential troubleshooting with transport and location. If you've made it this far without issue, you're doing well so stick with me! Then, we get to the door.
Is there a step? If yes, is there a ramp available? Do you need to ask for assistance to either retrieve or use this ramp? Is it wide enough and durable enough to support a chair? Do I have to ask a stranger on the street to go inside and fetch assistance?
Then there's the door itself. How wide is it? Is it heavy? Can you open it independently or is it a little rusty that requires a shove? Again, is there someone available to give you a hand if you need it or are you awkwardly sat banging into it trying to open it?
I have said it before and I will say it again; assisted access is not access. If I have to go in a side entrance, while it makes you feel like a glam celeb unless you've to go down an alley by the bins (its more common than expected), its not accessible.
If I have to get a code for your bathroom to use it, which would mean me trying to shout across a bar and try and get your attention; it is not accessible. If I have to ask someone for help entering your establishment? You guessed it; it is not accessible.
So, youve jumped through whatever access hurdles you needed and you get in the door of whatever establishment you want to go to. Again, I'm using nightclubs/pubs because they're both the best and worst example
Is there seating available? Because let me tell you, when all your friends are a few feet taller than you and they're all standing around and the place is loud, you can absolutely kiss any chance of being included in conversation goodbye
What about the bar? How high is it? Often when I'm trying to order drinks, the bar is at forehead level with me. Trying to get served on busy student nights is bad enough when youre visible. Often it takes someone pointing me out before I'm noticed which is of course embarrassing
How far is the bathroom from where you're positioned? Is there an accessible bathroom available? I've made solid friendships in bathrooms where I've needed to use the cubicle; at the cost of having to pee with the door open. Luckily, female bathrooms are a sacred space of joy
On the subject of accessible bathrooms; so many places use their accessible bathroom as a storage room. One place in Dublin in particular has staff lockers in there as well as cleaning products, which take up a considerable amount of space
Dancefloors. Where I make my bread and butter. I am very much the dancing friend of the group and I'm rarely off the dancefloor; if I can get onto it in the first place.
Many dancefloors have steps either up to them or down to them. Normally people only get brave enough on the dancefloor after a few drinks; so the concept of steps around drunk people has always been ridiculous to me even with my wheelchair aside.
I've built up a rapport with a few bouncers across Dublin and Dundalk who have carried me onto dancefloors; or up flights of stairs to clubs who either have no lift, or never service the one they have. Alternatively, it's used to move kegs
Relying on the kindness of strangers is not how I want to spend my time. I'm 21. I should be able to go out and do all the things my pals are doing without having to plan everything like an elaborate bank heist.
These were all issues I discussed in my workshop. And while I think I got the point across, I brought it a step further. I split people into groups, and assigned them 'disabilities'. Disabled people call this 'cripping up' which ordinarily isn't a good practice but it worked here
Everyone was stood up apart from one member of the group who was sat on the floor. Someone else had earplugs in, someone else had a blindfold on, and one person had no impairment. I asked them all to do something simple; have a loud conversation and try follow it.
So we had about 5/6 groups in each workshop all having loud conversations at once trying to follow what the other was saying. I got them to swap around their impairments every few minutes so everyone got a full overview of the exercise.
Afterwards, I went around every group and asked them to describe how they felt. Many said that they were thrown off balance by being blindfolded. Other people thought the earplugs were a great help; particularly those with sensory processing issues.
Those sitting on the floor complained of neck pain from having to look up all the time, or that they felt completely excluded from the conversation. Others felt vulnerable. When people had no impairment, they felt like they were at an advantage somehow. Like they were in control.
I used it as an opportunity to discuss with students what THEY could do to demand better from their LGBT spaces, but really it applies universally. Exclusion leads to loneliness, and we often hear of the effect that loneliness has on people's mental health.
And it's little subtleties that people don't think of; until they have to. And I don't begrudge people that at all, I probably wouldn't think about it either if I had that luxury. But whoever has read this thread is aware of it now.
So, people of Ireland; what do you think some solutions are? Simple, grand, whatever. What would you suggest on improvements to accessibility?
(sidenote: I am happy to bop around and deliver that workshop wherever, I think it's great craic and very informative for people to learn x)
