Entertainment Disabled

Disabled musicians are being let down by venues in which they wish to perform. Ruth Peterson, a wheelchair user recalls how her band was denied a venue for a UK tour because she was apparently a fire hazard.

A recent survey by attitude is everything on almost 100 disabled and deaf performers showed 2/3 compromised their health playing live. 20% confessed to having to cancel their performances as they could not access the entertainment centers.

The survey found that 30% of performers in the entertainment industry hide their disabilities to protect their images,those who said they could not access rehearsal centers were 38% while 96% believed the entertainment industry can do more for them.

Blaine Harrison who has spinal binafida, responding to the survey termed the statistics saddening. Peterson said that UK venues ignored disabled performers’ plights thinking they were doing them a favor by allowing them to perform.

Harrison said buildings built with recent designs were advantageous as they had well trained staff and easy access. The CEO of attitude is everything, Suzanne Bull, states that the survey would raise a lot of issues requiring the entertainment industry’s attention.

(Source: bbc.com)