A GROUP of young disabled campaigners told cinema bosses some of their own horror stories at many UK venues – and demanded action to end the “second-class service” they face.
After presenting a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to number 10 Downing Street, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Trailblazers group, grilled the heads of Odeon, Vue and Cineworld on their commitment to overcoming major inconsistencies in the experiences of disabled customers at their venues.
Trailblazer Tanvi Vyas, 28, who led the project said:
“Disabled people have a legal right to access cinema facilities, but further to this, we have a right as consumers to go to the cinema with confidence and receive a consistent service for our money.
“When you have had to wait weeks to see a new release at your local venue – as it isn’t being shown on an accessible screen, when you are unable to book your seat online, when you have to turn up on the day with your fingers crossed, hoping that the disabled spaces will be available, when you are unable to sit with your friends and you have an uncomfortable view of the screen, it is hard to accept that you are getting the same service for the ticket price as everyone else.”
Bobby Ancil, Trailblazers Project Manager said:
“This is an opportunity for cinema-industry leaders to listen and learn about what their disabled customers need in order to enjoy their experience at the cinema.”
Earlier this year Trailblazers produced a documentary, Lights, Camera, Access, on the problems they encountered at 125 UK cinemas. Their campaign is being backed by film industry figures including Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Miranda Richardson and Sigourney Weaver.
www.mdctrailblazers.org/cinemacampaign
