Outside Inc. uses the disabled for advertising, while carelessly disregarding those same people

This is the letter I wrote to Outside Inc. after attending their Outside Days Festival. It was an extremely disappointing experience from the perspective of people with disabilities. 

Good morning.

I am writing to inform you that the accessibility services provided at Outside Days were completely insufficient. My partner and I have attended hundreds of events, and I have never been so disappointed at the accessibility of an event. I have several issues that I will be laying out, and I would like to discuss your plan for next year.

First, the number of accessible seats was a fraction of what it should have been. If you investigate the ADA guidelines, you will see that there are minimum requirements for accessible seating and companion seating. Even in a circumstance where there are no assigned seats, (like lawn seating) you must provide sufficient seating dispersed throughout the entire event. One VIP section with 20 chairs and one general admission section with 40 chairs is absolutely unacceptable, especially for an event expecting 40,000 people total. The standard for an event of this size would be 211 accessible seats and 211 additional companion seats minimum. Roughly 1% of the expected capacity. Red Rocks Amphitheater, an outdoor venue designed for less than 10,000, has 121 accessible seats. More than double your amount, and more than double the minimum required amount for event venues per the ADA. More than 20% of the adult population identifies as having a disability so I would expect thousands of varied disabilities that should be considered. I will also mention businesses that erect temporary structures have argued for exemptions from the ADA and they were ultimately denied by the Department of Justice. In addition, you have it written on your website that “if accessible seating reaches capacity, companions will be asked to move to the back of the platform.” There are several fundamental problems with this statement. One, you acknowledge that you know your seating is insufficient by stating you will ask companions to move. Two, asking a companion to be separated from their partner is violating the ADA. Three, you create a fire hazard by asking companions to stand in the back. (See circulation requirements) None of the wheelchair users were able to easily leave the platform to use the bathroom, and if there were an emergency, those same people would be stranded. Especially if their companion was moved. This event took place on a public university campus, and it was in partnership with the state of Colorado. That intensifies the problematic nature of these actions and potentially opens the state government to legal liability.  For a company that seemingly prides itself on seeking equal access to the outdoors, per your mission statement, this event felt woefully ill-prepared.

Second, I use American Sign Language, and the interpreter was nowhere near either of the accessible platforms. Some deaf people may be able to get physically close to the stage to understand the interpreter, but many individuals with disabilities live with comorbidities that make it difficult (or impossible) to approach the stage. The interpreter was at least 50-60 yards from either accessible platform.

Third, and on a more personal note, we were able to scan into the VIP section to utilize the accessible seating on the first night. The next day, our wristbands no longer worked for the VIP section. When I asked the attendant about why our tickets weren’t functioning the same day to day, he said “I don’t know, it’s a complete clusterf*** around here and I have no idea what’s going on” and then he told us to leave.

Fourth, I did a lot of research surrounding Outside Inc. as an organization and I was unable to find anyone in your company explicitly responsible for accessibility. While browsing the Outside Inc website, I noticed you do not have an accessibility statement. While that is not a violation, it is indicative of the flippant attitude towards people who have disabilities.

Lastly, did anyone consult with people who have disabilities? Frankly, this organization made us feel like an afterthought, and I know my partner was not the only disabled woman that felt that way. If you have questions, you are welcome to ask people with disabilities and/or refer to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. All the legally binding guidelines are available to view any time. I think if you have people with disabilities consult with your planning department, you would be much more successful in implementation and complying with the ADA. Please respond soon so we can come up with a proactive plan for next year.

If you cannot provide an immediate statement, please acknowledge receipt of this email and your intent to reply.

Respectfully,

George Knudtson

I have not received any response back yet, so I'm spreading the word in the best way I know how. If you read all the way through, I greatly appreciate your time and your understanding.