I wish to take this opportunity to test the validity of why it’s more expensive for me, as a wheelchair user, to pay more to attend events, concerts and the like. 

Firstly, let’s look at the supposed “justification” for these higher prices. After some rigorous research I identified that the rationale behind the pricing of entertainment and concert tickets for disabled people tends to be higher than for non-disabled people due to the following reasons – whether they are justified is another matter:
1. Accessibility Accommodations: Venues may need to invest in specific accommodations for disabled people, such as wheelchair ramps, accessible seating, or additional staff to assist. These costs can be factored into ticket prices.

2. Limited Availability: Accessible seating is often more limited in number compared to standard seating. This scarcity can lead to higher prices for those specific seats.
3. Legal Requirements: Some venues may charge more to comply with laws and regulations regarding accessibility, which can lead to increased costs for disabled people.
4. Service Fees: Ticketing platforms may have additional service fees for accessible tickets, which can contribute to higher overall costs.
5. Market Demand: In some cases, if there is a higher demand for accessible seating, prices may be adjusted accordingly.

Let’s look at these five “explanations”. When grouped together they all tend to follow the same rationale; it is more expensive for organisers of events, concerts and the like because of having to either outlay more money to provide “additional” access types – ramps etc, fees, compliance than “normal” or because there’s less demand for this accessible seating so prices are higher. Now, I’m sorry, but this sounds more like reasons, excuses, stories, in other words a load of bollocks.

Why should I, as a wheelchair user through no fault of my own, due to an accident, have to pay extra for that circumstance? As any disabled person should have to? Why should I be penalised monetarily because there are fewer of us wheelies, or other disabled people, for additional costs that are incurred to cater for my or our attendance? Why am I not due discounted seats, as more able-bodied people can obtain? The simple answer is that there is no reason that stands up to hard scrutiny.

My proposed and quite simple solution is this. Look at your total access and seating requirements for both able-bodied and disabled people and the costs thereof. Divide that total cost by the total number of attendees catered for, including both able-bodied and disabled people, to calculate the average cost per person. As there is far less accessible seating requirements for disabled people, when their extra costs, as outlined earlier, is accumulated into the vast majority of attendees, along with disabled people, then the additional cost to all becomes far less onerous to all.

We are, after all, one society that should look after all within its community equally. I, for one, do not see my proposal as anything but fair and equitable. When all is said and done, why should attending events be more expensive for disabled people? It shouldn’t be. 

About the author

Ian Walker is a C6 Quadriplegic Incomplete. Ian lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and has survived 2 separate spinal cord injury-related accidents over the past 14 years. He is a Motivational Speaker who talks about - how to face adversity, cycle road safety, living with a disability, and being a 1 percenter . . .

Ian also enjoys life coaching which he utilises through his business BMotiv8d, to assist those with a disability, (or without), who lack motivation, direction and/or confidence, those who feel disorganised or unfulfilled, and/or those who need encouragement or need to set priorities, on how to realise their true potential.