Is this contravening Disability Discrimination Act?

peteb93

First of all im not sure if this is in the right place but if it isnt then Mods feel free to move this post to the appropriate section.

I rang up the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham earlier today about a wheelchair space for my partner and a carers seat for myself.I was told by the gentleman on the phone that they still had two wheelchair spaces but had sold the seats around them so there were no seats available for a carer.
Is this contravening the Disability Discrimination Act because its denying my partner the oppurtunity of going to the concert because i cant go as her carer?

tomtontom

The theatre makes provision for a certain number of disabled/ carer seats, once these are gone you are out of luck. It is not discriminatory, and generally happens because some disabled people will need two seats and no wheelchair space.

The relevant law has changed also - it is now the Equality Act 2010.

peteb93

Thanks for the quick response its just i werent sure because they still had the two wheelchair spaces still available but had sold all the seats around it.The tickets have only been on sale a couple of weeks.

tomtontom

peteb93 wrote: »

Thanks for the quick response its just i werent sure because they still had the two wheelchair spaces still available but had sold all the seats around it.The tickets have only been on sale a couple of weeks.

Are there tickets available elsewhere that might accommodate a wheelchair next to them? It's worth asking.

It is worth contacting the theatre manager to give feedback - perhaps in future they could allocate so many seats as wheelchair plus carer? It's a difficult balancing act, as not every wheelchair user needs a carer, and not every disabled person uses a wheelchair. Definitely worth a chat to see if they can improve their allocation.

peteb93

Im going to send an email to the Theatre Director tomorrow and explain whats happened.If he cant help us then at least they might change theyre policy in the future.
Our local theatre tends to keep the seats next to the wheelchair spaces available until a few days before the performance or until the wheelchair spaces are filled and they know no carer seats are needed.
Thanks so much for your help its much appreciated.

kingfisherblue

Does the wheelchair user need to stay in the chair for the performance, or can they be taken to their seat in the chair, transfer to the seat, and then have staff remove the chair for safekeeping. The staff can then return the chair at the end of the show.


This is what I do with my son. I've been in various theatres with him, and if you ring to ask beforehand, they are usually very helpful. As my son has learning difficulties as well as limited mobility, he cannot sit alone and have me sitting elsewhere. I haven't yet had a theatre refuse to accommodate us in this way. At the Opera House in Manchester, they actually assigned a member of staff to meet us and look after us before and after the performance, and during the interval.

cattermole

Our local theatre will just put a removable chair in the other wheelchair space to get around this if seats around are sold. Ask about that.

specialboy

Can the wheelchair user not sit alone for an hour or two and you sit nearby?