Today was my boyfrinds birthday, and they wanted to go to an art exhibition. The artist was virtually completely new to me, compared to him knowing them fairly well. But as the title may suggest this post is not about the artist, it is about the accessibility of the event itself.

It took place in a building which clearly had accessibility in mind from a very early point in its construction and this was both obvious and later confirmed by staff. And to be honest with you I think that made all the difference.

At this event I saw the most visibly disabled people I’ve ever seen in one room which was not a disability specific event. I was honestly presently surprised by this.

Of the entire installation there was only two elements that were an accessible to me. One provided the opportunity to lie on something and the other involved being able to see through a hole at a certain angle.

While I think something could have been done to make the second Innaccessible element more accessibility, the overwhelming accessibility of the rest of the exhibition and building, massively outweighed any disappointment here.

While I may at a later date disclose the specific venue, this post is intended as a wider reminder. A reminder that disabled people exist. That we want and deserve to exist in society, and that we can if you let us. That accessibility is dramatically improved if it is a thought from the very beginning rather than an after thought.

I can tell whether you just felt like you had a box to tick to get me in the building, or whether you actually want me there.