I do not like to complain, however I need to vent. Hopefully this will be a call to action, to challenge the status quo!
It is shocking how businesses have no wheelchair access! I am disgusted and saddened!
I am a mother to two amazing boys, I call them my kings. Recently my kings were called in for a casting. They are under age therefore they must be accompanied by a parent or an adult. I enquired from the person from the agency if they have access for wheelchair (because I have learnt the hard way that I can not assume there is), and they do not! A studio that has been in existence for decades, credible, reputable modeling and talent agency! Zero wheelchair access! Shocking to me. So my babies had to go to the casting without their mother, because ‘unfortunately there’s no wheelchair access’.
Sadly this is not just about the agency. It’s a huge problem that we face in this country. In the almost two years that I have been on this chair, I choose not to go to the cinema, concerts, plays, we even order in most of the time.
Last time we had a movie date with the kings I was informed that I had to sit away from my family. Sadly I could not accept the suggested ‘naughty corner’ approach whilst paying the same as everyone else for the experience. I insisted that a plan must be made so that I can sit with my son. An old uncomfortable office chair was brought in. He spilt the cool drink and popcorn, because the office chair that we were given did not have a cooldrink and popcorn holder as we are accustomed to. Needless to say neither I nor my son enjoyed the experience. This is one of many stories I can tell.
When is this going to change? Do we need to create our own ‘Hello Peter’ to name and shame businesses who treat us as an after thought?