Are the UK’s Biggest Summer Events Disability Friendly?

By Editor1SYS | May 22, 2019 0 Comments

With summer just around the corner, the UK’s festival season is almost upon us. In recent years, a lot of headway has been made to ensure these crowd-grabbing events are accessible to everyone. This means, adding more disability friendly facilities and ensuring those with impairments can enjoy the festivals just like everyone else.

Here, we’ll look at how the UK’s festivals are offering a more inclusive experience.

Viewing platforms

The majority of major events in the UK now make use of viewing platforms. Glastonbury has them, as does the Download and British Summertime Hyde Park festivals. These make viewing the performances a lot easier for those in a wheelchair.

There are two major types of viewing platforms available. The first are raised platforms, which allow wheelchair users to see above the crowds. The other type is a designated standing platform. This is ideal for those with a disability who prefer to stand up but want or need to be kept away from the crowds.

Disabled car parks

Parking at a major festival can be a really stressful experience. That’s where disabled parking proves invaluable. Most of the biggest festivals in the UK have a designated disabled parking area. So, if you’re travelling in a wheelchair friendly vehicle from a company such as Allied Mobility for example, you won’t encounter any issues finding a place to park.

Disability-friendly campsites

Similarly, a lot of festivals now host their own disabled campsites. These enable those with various disabilities to enjoy the full festival experience in a safe and fun environment. The campsites usually let you drive right up to them too, making them even more convenient.

Plus, there will be plenty of disabled-friendly facilities such as toilets and showers. Just make sure you double check the disabled facilities at each festival as they will differ depending upon which one you’re heading to.  

Performance interpreters

One of the most recent introductions onto the festival scene for disabled attendees, is performance interpreters. These are there to help those with visual or hearing impairments. It enhances the festival experience and they are usually based next to the main stage. However, as this is a fairly new addition to the festival scene, not all festivals will have interpreters on hand.

These are just some of the ways the UK’s major summer festivals are equipped for disabled attendees. You can call the festival helpline ahead of time to see which individual facilities are available, as well as to arrange any special requirements you may have. While it’s certainly great that festivals are starting to become disabled friendly, improvements could still be made; particularly in terms of the booking process. Many people have had issues booking disabled tickets so if you do need to, it’s worth doing it as far in advance as possible.