A new survey aims to hear about the challenges facing wheelchair users and people with disabilities in their social lives across towns and cities, so that practical solutions can be put in place to make night life accessible for all.
The purpose of the ‘Night-Time Economy Accessibility Survey’ is to examine the challenges for patrons and artists with disabilities accessing the night time economy.
Louise Bruton is a DJ, journalist, playwright and disability rights activist who writes a weekly newsletter called ‘Legless in Dublin’ where she explores issues around access.
Ms Bruton is involved in highlighting the survey and bring it to the attention of other wheelchair users.
Speaking to RTÉ News in Temple Bar, she said: “This part of town is a great example of the many problems for me when trying to plan a night out.
“It’s not even the access to venues but even getting there is a challenge.
“Cobblestones, broken pavements, bins, cars and bikes blocking access points all make arrangements hard. Then you get to the front door of a venue and the lift is broken or the doorway is blocked. It can be very frustrating.”
Going out should be a relaxing activity with little planning or thought involved, but as Ms Bruton often writes in her weekly Substack newsletter, these are recurring issues facing her and her friends.
Ms Bruton said that the survey can help plan a better environment so people with disabilities can plan a night out without having to confront basic access issues.
“It is a great opportunity for disabled people to point out all the ways in which the night time economy can become more inclusive,” she said.
“It will be a huge learning curve for everyone working in the arts and entertainment sectors in Ireland – possibly even a shock – but we cannot continue to exclude so many people from living fully enriched social lives any longer.”
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Questions in the survey include how accessible are night time activities such as a concert, the cinema, the theatre, a gallery, a restaurant, sporting venue or a nightclub.
However, the survey also drills down into where difficulties might lie with accessibility, finding out about that online, getting transport to a venue and the role of staff too.
If the night time economy is to be truly inclusive and diverse, the team behind the survey believe that the barriers that exist have to be examined in order to find practical solutions on how to deliver an inclusive accessible experience for everyone.
People involved in the sector are being invited to contribute to the survey, launched by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts, and the plan is that the survey will highlight the type of practical supports that can be put in place to improve experiences.
Minister for Culture and the Arts Catherine Martin has said that the findings of the survey should make nightlife accessible to all.
“The night time economy is where we meet friends, enjoy what our cities and towns have to offer and where we create and express ourselves,” the minister said.
“However, if we want our nightlife to be truly inclusive and diverse, we need to first understand the lived experiences that people with disabilities face when performing or socialising at night.”
Any group involved in the night time economy or an organisation working with people with a disability can participate in the survey.
The survey was developed by Minister Martin’s department in conjunction with Ireland Thinks and was informed by consultation with Disabled Persons’ Organisations and others involved across the disability community.
The survey results will be collated into a report by Ireland Thinks and will contain a set of actions to further the Night-Time Economy Taskforce objective of an inclusive, accessible nightlife.
