I am never quite sure of how I feel about concessions for
people with a disability. On a general level, I support the idea of universal
access. On a personal level, a disability concession seems to emphasize that
people with a disability are different from the mainstream of the population.
For the most part, I don’t like this feeling of “difference”, but at other
times I appreciate it when a concession is made to accommodate my vision
impairment. It is a puzzle. What do I
really want?
While I don’t expect or need concessions for certain
occasions, it would be nice have some sort of concession on others. So, where
to draw the line? I think that travelling on public transport where I need to
be accompanied by a guide is one of the times when a concession would be
appropriate. Some cities are great with this and others not so much! Should I
be expected to pay two fares, one for myself and the other for my guide, or for
that matter should my volunteer guide be expected to pay for his/her own fare
as well as the donation of time?
Let me take another example. When I attend a live show or performance,
or for that matter a movie or other visual presentation, I don’t get much out
of it unless I am sitting in the very front row. Some theatres are
accommodating and reserve from row seats for people with mobility or vision
disabilities without pumping up the cost of the tickets. Other theatres
recognize that front row seating is prime and so the cost of these seats is
also top value.
Recently, when we were in Charlottetown, Lyle and I attended
a performance of Anne and Gilbert. The show was top notch but we knew
that if I was to enjoy the show at all, we needed front row seating. There was
no concession in the price of the tickets. During the performance I noticed
that in addition to Lyle and myself, there was only one other group of four in
the front row. The woman in the group used a walking frame and would not have
been able to climb the stairs. So, there we were – two small groups in disabled
and expensive seating while those who could climb stairs and were able to see
chose seats at reduced costs.
It is a conundrum. What are my expectations? I’m sure I
don’t really know but as I say, it is certainly nice when concessions are made
but I continue to struggle with the stigma of “difference”.
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