"Hello! My name is Maggie and this is my beautiful best friend Rachael.
Rachael and I have been friends for years and one of the main things that connects us is our mutual love for the music of Ryan Adams. She loves music, art, and life in general: she is one of the sweetest, most enthusiastic and fun people that I've ever met. She also has invisible illnesses, even though they do not define her. She has had multiple brain surgeries, she suffers from Ehlers-Dahnlos Syndrome and dislocates easily, and she therefore uses a wheelchair if she has to be out for very long. Rachael lives outside of Atlanta, and so we were both excited to discover our hero headlining at the Shaky Knees festival, right after she turned 21 years old. We were also excited to find out that Shaky Knees was wheelchair-accessible. Upon doing some research, we discovered there was a raised area for handicapped seating. Parking was a little harder to figure out, but according to the festival site, there were nearby parking garages. We bought tickets, I drove down and picked up Rachael and her chair, and we made the 15-mile venture into downtown Atlanta. What followed was quite the adventure.
I want everyone to know, right off the bat, that I am not writing this to bash the Shaky Knees festival. Most of our experience was excellent and I would certainly consider returning to the festival again. However, I had a very eye-opening trip yesterday; as an able-bodied person, I realized for the first time a lot of the issues that face those in the disabled community, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes that festival-goers and promoters might take notice of the challenges a handicapped person can be faced with when attending an event.
We drove into the city and parked in the nearest parking garage we could find. (Maybe we could have parked a little closer, but downtown Atlanta is fairly hard to navigate for first-timers, especially during a big event.) Immediately upon making it out onto the sidewalk, we discovered this was going to be harder than we thought. The Atlanta sidewalks leading to the festival were certainly not in the greatest condition, and the potholes, cracks, and splits posed quite the challenge while moving Rachael in her chair. This was my first time taking her somewhere like this and therefore I had never thought that a seemingly small set of sidewalk cracks can be insurmountable for someone who is wheelchair-bound. Fortunately she is able to get out of the chair for short periods of time, as she had to several times to avoid obstacles and the sidewalks randomly ending. This is not on any festival, but rather the city of Atlanta (and cities in general): please consider updating your sidewalks to make it easier for disabled folks to get around. Safe passage to and from your destination is a right of anyone visiting your city.
When Rachael and I arrived at the front gate, we were amazed to discover that, though the festival claimed to be wheelchair-accessible, her chair would not fit through the entry gate. Frustrated, Rachael walked through the gate with me holding her chair directly behind her (not an easy task); amazed, I asked the front gate staff if there was an easier way I could take her in or out. One of the ticket-takers responded, “technically, you can't bring a chair in without someone in it.” I was taken aback, incredulous at his rude attitude toward my friend and her chair. Rachael spoke up, explaining that she had had to get out of the chair in order for it to fit through the gate. The gentleman then had the nerve to actually ask her why she needed the wheelchair. Rachael explained her illnesses; by this point, several staff members had gathered around and were staring and she and I were both getting upset. The ticket-taker let us go without answering any of my questions about getting her in and out more easily.
As we made our way through the festival, I was shocked that, even after asking a couple more staff members (they were rather hard to find), no one could answer any of my questions. I also found it hard to believe that the only “accessibility” for several of the sidewalks were plywood ramps that did not even fit closely enough to the sidewalk that I could get her wheelchair up them without the assistance of helpful passersby. When we reached the portable restrooms, there was not even a ramp of any sort making the bathrooms accessible.
By this time, we had been walking for over an hour; once I got Rachael set up in the ADA seating area, got us water, and got settled in, both she and I were exhausted. However, I was thoroughly disgusted by the challenges we had faced and the way my friend was treated. I spoke to the ADA staff and explained our situation again; they could not help me, but they were extremely gracious about contacting the person that could.
Now, fortunately there is a good ending to this story. For starters, the ADA area was set up very well; there was a sturdy ramp for easy access, it was raised enough that we could still see everything happening on the stage, there was plenty of room for everyone, and the staff were the most helpful that I had met thus far. A few minutes later, a superior came to meet me. I explained our situation once again- at this point, I just wanted to make my concerns known and find a better way to get Rachael out as she was already tired. The gentleman immediately apologized and invited me to walk with him to figure out an easier way for us to leave the festival.
I cannot say enough good things about both the gentleman that helped me, and the policeman and woman he introduced me to. They arranged for me to move my car to the first aid area; after Rachael and I saw Ryan Adams, I would be able to wheel her straight from ADA to the car. Everyone I spoke to after that point was incredibly gracious and helpful. I made the confusing walk back to my car. When I had trouble finding the entry to the first aid area, the superior and the police were an enormous help. I received numerous apologies and was invited to follow up with the superior via email.
I made it back to the ADA area just in time and the rest of our day was an incredible success. The festival sound and video screens were so well-done that we felt we could see and hear everything, even from the back of the crowd. There is nothing that can quite describe the emotional high of being with someone you care about, seeing your musical hero put on such a fantastic performance. It was also Rachael's first time seeing him, and she loved it; we sang, laughed, and smiled until our faces hurt. Some other nice festival-goers helped me get Rachael over a couple more plywood ramps and then back to the car. As we drove out of Atlanta, we were both tired and elated; we also had a discussion about our challenging day that led to me writing all of this down.
Again, I cannot say enough good things about the superior and the police that helped me figure our issues out. I can't say enough good things about the handicapped-accessible area, about the sound, lighting, and video screens, and of course about Ryan Adams. However, I hope my experience raises some questions, not only about accessibility at events, but also about how we treat people with disabilities, especially those that we cannot see. I would also like to bring up some improvements that I think could be made.
Festival promoters, if you are going to claim that your festival is wheelchair-accessible, you cannot just throw out a couple of cheap plywood ramps and call it a day. Accessibility is about safe, nearby parking; easy entry into the festival and access into the stages; easy access to areas such as merchandise, food, drinks, and restrooms; and, most importantly, not being made to feel differently because you are a person with a disability trying to enjoy an event. Though it was resolved, the way my friend was treated was wrong on so many levels. Please take the time to better educate your staff on how to properly treat the handicapped community. Under no circumstances should someone have to explain their disability in order to gain access to something that is supposed to be wheelchair-accessible. Please take the time to set aside proper parking and proper entrances for the handicapped. Please ensure that your sidewalks have correct ramps so people in wheelchairs can get on and off the sidewalk and access the restrooms, merchandise tables, and food and beverage vendors. Please remember that music, at its core, is about community: it brings people together from all walks of life, all types of health, all kinds of different places. No matter if people are able-bodied or wheelchair-bound, they deserve the same experience.
Again, I did not write this message to call out the Shaky Knees festival. Actually, I want to thank the festival, not only for allowing Rachael and me the opportunity to see our hero perform, but for opening my eyes to a problem I was previously unaware of. I'd like to thank the staff that helped us, the folks we met in the handicapped area, and Ryan Adams for bringing us together. I'd also like to thank anyone who is reading this, and I hope you will consider how we, as a community of music lovers, can work to make our events more accessible for everyone. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Maggie
(Note: I have reached out to the gentleman that helped me at the festival, the festival itself, and the Atlanta newspaper; if I hear back from any of them, I will update with their responses as I'd be very interested in starting a dialogue with them.)"
Rachael and I have been friends for years and one of the main things that connects us is our mutual love for the music of Ryan Adams. She loves music, art, and life in general: she is one of the sweetest, most enthusiastic and fun people that I've ever met. She also has invisible illnesses, even though they do not define her. She has had multiple brain surgeries, she suffers from Ehlers-Dahnlos Syndrome and dislocates easily, and she therefore uses a wheelchair if she has to be out for very long. Rachael lives outside of Atlanta, and so we were both excited to discover our hero headlining at the Shaky Knees festival, right after she turned 21 years old. We were also excited to find out that Shaky Knees was wheelchair-accessible. Upon doing some research, we discovered there was a raised area for handicapped seating. Parking was a little harder to figure out, but according to the festival site, there were nearby parking garages. We bought tickets, I drove down and picked up Rachael and her chair, and we made the 15-mile venture into downtown Atlanta. What followed was quite the adventure.
I want everyone to know, right off the bat, that I am not writing this to bash the Shaky Knees festival. Most of our experience was excellent and I would certainly consider returning to the festival again. However, I had a very eye-opening trip yesterday; as an able-bodied person, I realized for the first time a lot of the issues that face those in the disabled community, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes that festival-goers and promoters might take notice of the challenges a handicapped person can be faced with when attending an event.
We drove into the city and parked in the nearest parking garage we could find. (Maybe we could have parked a little closer, but downtown Atlanta is fairly hard to navigate for first-timers, especially during a big event.) Immediately upon making it out onto the sidewalk, we discovered this was going to be harder than we thought. The Atlanta sidewalks leading to the festival were certainly not in the greatest condition, and the potholes, cracks, and splits posed quite the challenge while moving Rachael in her chair. This was my first time taking her somewhere like this and therefore I had never thought that a seemingly small set of sidewalk cracks can be insurmountable for someone who is wheelchair-bound. Fortunately she is able to get out of the chair for short periods of time, as she had to several times to avoid obstacles and the sidewalks randomly ending. This is not on any festival, but rather the city of Atlanta (and cities in general): please consider updating your sidewalks to make it easier for disabled folks to get around. Safe passage to and from your destination is a right of anyone visiting your city.
When Rachael and I arrived at the front gate, we were amazed to discover that, though the festival claimed to be wheelchair-accessible, her chair would not fit through the entry gate. Frustrated, Rachael walked through the gate with me holding her chair directly behind her (not an easy task); amazed, I asked the front gate staff if there was an easier way I could take her in or out. One of the ticket-takers responded, “technically, you can't bring a chair in without someone in it.” I was taken aback, incredulous at his rude attitude toward my friend and her chair. Rachael spoke up, explaining that she had had to get out of the chair in order for it to fit through the gate. The gentleman then had the nerve to actually ask her why she needed the wheelchair. Rachael explained her illnesses; by this point, several staff members had gathered around and were staring and she and I were both getting upset. The ticket-taker let us go without answering any of my questions about getting her in and out more easily.
As we made our way through the festival, I was shocked that, even after asking a couple more staff members (they were rather hard to find), no one could answer any of my questions. I also found it hard to believe that the only “accessibility” for several of the sidewalks were plywood ramps that did not even fit closely enough to the sidewalk that I could get her wheelchair up them without the assistance of helpful passersby. When we reached the portable restrooms, there was not even a ramp of any sort making the bathrooms accessible.
By this time, we had been walking for over an hour; once I got Rachael set up in the ADA seating area, got us water, and got settled in, both she and I were exhausted. However, I was thoroughly disgusted by the challenges we had faced and the way my friend was treated. I spoke to the ADA staff and explained our situation again; they could not help me, but they were extremely gracious about contacting the person that could.
Now, fortunately there is a good ending to this story. For starters, the ADA area was set up very well; there was a sturdy ramp for easy access, it was raised enough that we could still see everything happening on the stage, there was plenty of room for everyone, and the staff were the most helpful that I had met thus far. A few minutes later, a superior came to meet me. I explained our situation once again- at this point, I just wanted to make my concerns known and find a better way to get Rachael out as she was already tired. The gentleman immediately apologized and invited me to walk with him to figure out an easier way for us to leave the festival.
I cannot say enough good things about both the gentleman that helped me, and the policeman and woman he introduced me to. They arranged for me to move my car to the first aid area; after Rachael and I saw Ryan Adams, I would be able to wheel her straight from ADA to the car. Everyone I spoke to after that point was incredibly gracious and helpful. I made the confusing walk back to my car. When I had trouble finding the entry to the first aid area, the superior and the police were an enormous help. I received numerous apologies and was invited to follow up with the superior via email.
I made it back to the ADA area just in time and the rest of our day was an incredible success. The festival sound and video screens were so well-done that we felt we could see and hear everything, even from the back of the crowd. There is nothing that can quite describe the emotional high of being with someone you care about, seeing your musical hero put on such a fantastic performance. It was also Rachael's first time seeing him, and she loved it; we sang, laughed, and smiled until our faces hurt. Some other nice festival-goers helped me get Rachael over a couple more plywood ramps and then back to the car. As we drove out of Atlanta, we were both tired and elated; we also had a discussion about our challenging day that led to me writing all of this down.
Again, I cannot say enough good things about the superior and the police that helped me figure our issues out. I can't say enough good things about the handicapped-accessible area, about the sound, lighting, and video screens, and of course about Ryan Adams. However, I hope my experience raises some questions, not only about accessibility at events, but also about how we treat people with disabilities, especially those that we cannot see. I would also like to bring up some improvements that I think could be made.
Festival promoters, if you are going to claim that your festival is wheelchair-accessible, you cannot just throw out a couple of cheap plywood ramps and call it a day. Accessibility is about safe, nearby parking; easy entry into the festival and access into the stages; easy access to areas such as merchandise, food, drinks, and restrooms; and, most importantly, not being made to feel differently because you are a person with a disability trying to enjoy an event. Though it was resolved, the way my friend was treated was wrong on so many levels. Please take the time to better educate your staff on how to properly treat the handicapped community. Under no circumstances should someone have to explain their disability in order to gain access to something that is supposed to be wheelchair-accessible. Please take the time to set aside proper parking and proper entrances for the handicapped. Please ensure that your sidewalks have correct ramps so people in wheelchairs can get on and off the sidewalk and access the restrooms, merchandise tables, and food and beverage vendors. Please remember that music, at its core, is about community: it brings people together from all walks of life, all types of health, all kinds of different places. No matter if people are able-bodied or wheelchair-bound, they deserve the same experience.
Again, I did not write this message to call out the Shaky Knees festival. Actually, I want to thank the festival, not only for allowing Rachael and me the opportunity to see our hero perform, but for opening my eyes to a problem I was previously unaware of. I'd like to thank the staff that helped us, the folks we met in the handicapped area, and Ryan Adams for bringing us together. I'd also like to thank anyone who is reading this, and I hope you will consider how we, as a community of music lovers, can work to make our events more accessible for everyone. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Maggie
(Note: I have reached out to the gentleman that helped me at the festival, the festival itself, and the Atlanta newspaper; if I hear back from any of them, I will update with their responses as I'd be very interested in starting a dialogue with them.)"
