The Latitude Festival has rapidly become a summer highlight since it was launched in 2006 and this year Able2uk will be paying our first visit to the site to assess their disabled facilities and review a headline act, already things are looking good for guests with special needs...
First of all, thanks to a young chap called Stuart Anderson you can watch a short film on YouTube highlighting information for Deaf visitors. This can be found at the Latitude Youtube Channel.
Disabled campers will join the guests in a laid-back campsite which will be manned 24 hours a day by helpful staff, including a disabled/ guest campsite manager. (The disabled campsite will be a separate area within guest camping) Once you have visited the check-in desk security will ensure your weekend runs as smoothly as possible and with the folks from the marvellous Attitude Is Everything, a charity which supports better access at live music events, on site we are ensured you will be looked after as best as possible.
It’s not just AIE who are joining the festive celebrations this weekend, the team from Hands4U well be on site if you need a bit of support and there’s even free BSL Interpreting for some of the weekend activities including comedy performances, theatre productions and readings in the Literary Arenas.
Details on both causes can be found at www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk and http://www.hands4uaccess.com/
Accessesabilty around the site itself shouldn’t be too bad, but bar in mind it’s a woodland area not there’s no hard ground or proper pathways and some of the ground will be quite stony. The good news is that the area between the disabled/ guest campsite is a pathway, although it can be a bit rough so wheelchair users should prepare themselves for a little bumpy ride.
Disabled guests should enter the Yellow Gate upon arrival and there will be reserved car parking spaces close to the guest box office. The disabled campsite will be equipped with charging points for electric wheelchairs.
Disabled loos will be positioned in the campsite and around the arena, guests without special needs are kindly asked to find other toilet facilities. There will also be a disabled shower cubicle located in the disabled campsite.
As Latitude is a laid-back festival guests normally sit crossed legged on the ground in the smaller tents in a school-assembly fashion, so there is no need for viewing platforms in these areas. For the outdoor stage you will have access to a viewing platform providing there’s enough capacity.
If you are going to Latitude have a great time and look out for the Able2uk team handing out our business cards which could win you the odd prize or two. Oh, and a word of warning, one of the sponsors are The Sunday Times so be careful with your mobile call conversations!
