Initiative Barrierefrei Feiern is a collective of people with and without disabilities that has been advising event organisers on developing inclusive strategies in their arts and culture activities for over three years now. Rather than just handing out accessibility checklists to venues, which often just end up in the filing cabinet, the collective’s experts provide concrete advice directly on site on how to make sure that people with disabilities can take part in the events.
People without disabilities are often unaware of what it takes to make events accessible; that merely installing an accessible toilet is far from enough. So what does it take? Online drinks menus for blind people, wheelchair ramps that are not too steep to be negotiated without assistance, and advance information on whether sign language interpreters will be on site are a good start. Equally relevant measures are online content that can be read with a screen reader, a detailed description of how to reach the venue, and posters designed with clear contrasts and an easy-to-read typeface.
“The Gasteig is committed to making the arts accessible to all and everyone. This calls for more than just a diverse range of events. We want to enable everyone to take part and attend our events. That’s why we are delighted to have the experts from Initiative Barrierefrei Feiern at our side.”
Direct dialogue with those affected enables creatives to consider accessibility issues already at the planning stage. At the events themselves, an on-site awareness team from Initiative Barrierefrei Feiern provides support to everyone, not only visitors with disabilities. This personal contact with the experts helps visitors to overcome their fear of social interaction and experience a true sense of inclusion. One opportunity for making this contact is provided at the Meeting Point in the Gasteig HP8, where anyone can come along to paint their fingernails while chatting with members of the awareness team, like its Community Manager, Franzi Lammers.
Franzi, your collective has already attended several events in the Gasteig and will also be providing support at the Mental Health Arts Festival. What does accessibility have to do with mental health?
A lot. Visibility plays an important role here: You can see straight away, for example, that I’m in a wheelchair. But there are many disabilities that are not immediately evident, and many of those are to do with mental health. Those affected often experience discrimination because their needs and issues are not immediately visible. A specific example: People with hidden disabilities may also be in need of an accessible toilet, but find that they are denied access, which, of course, they experience as discrimination. We aim to prevent situations like this from happening by issuing wristbands to people with invisible disabilities who need to use accessible toilets.
At the Mental Health Arts Festival, an awareness team from your initiative will be on site at the Gasteig HP8. What does that mean, specifically?
Our awareness team is available on site for people with disabilities as well as anyone who needs support of any kind, for example because they are not feeling well, are in a crisis, have been triggered or just need a break from it all. Our team is intersectional and diverse. it consists of people with and without disabilities and therefore covers a wide range of perspectives. As experts with personal experience in the field, we also have various specialist skills that comes to bear on our awareness work. We can be approached regarding a wide range of topics and can intervene and provide support in critical situations or if someone is unsure they can cope. Our aim is for everyone to have access to the Mental Health Arts Festival and to feel at ease and have a good time at Gasteig HP8.
You distinguish clearly between “accessibility” and “inclusion”. Why is that?
I like to paraphrase diversity consultant Vernã Myers here: “Accessibility is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance” Luckily, interest in inclusion is gaining traction in our society. But sometimes it remains just a theory and there is no actual contact to people with disabilities. It’s not inclusion when an event is accessible but intended only for people with disabilities; it’s only inclusion when people with disabilities can take part in all events. Inclusion is when I no longer have to talk about it. Inclusion is when we all party together.
More information on the Initiative Barrierefrei Feiern collective (in German)
Accessibility at the Gasteig
Text: Melanie Brandl
