Sir, – I was angered to read of the decision of Aiken Promotions to introduce a charge for a person with a disability to bring a carer to future events (Home News, February 14th). The rationale offered for this decision is that people with a disability are treated in a similar manner to “able-bodied” members of society.
Many people with a disability are unable to attend a concert without the assistance of a carer, so Aiken is effectively charging them double entry into an event. Other members of the public do not need personal support to attend an event!
For many people with a disability it is not their condition that disables them, but attitudinal barriers such as this one by Aiken.
The effective double-charging for a person to bring his or her carer or personal assistant will make it financially prohibitive for a person to attend a concert which is already an expensive night out.
The actions of Aiken will only serve to exclude people with a disability from Irish cultural life. – Yours, etc,