Hi Nikke

I definitely understand your reaction and I would like to come to the meeting 2006 but I don’t know if it works out. But that is just the story around. We have friends who are wheelchair-users and as group we were always able to get them where they wanted to be – we have stairs in the house to the living room but we always managed to carry or arrange something. From my point of view – and that is an if as I don’t know if it works out – but I am sure there is a way even to use this hotels with the help of friend along. I will! Or there are friends with a car who can even go for a further and reasonable hotel. Sure Organisers can think of it but the point for me is, we are fans for ROS and it is a give and take idea behind – so why cannot it work out for all with the help of all the ones that want to take part in it. There are many things why people cannot attend, either they cannot afford the  trip, the stay or the facilities around the accessibility – either there is a way to find a hotel or place to stay that works or we work together that it works – my philosophy.

Moni

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Nikke [mailto:nikke17uk@...]
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. März 2005 13:00
An: JasonConnery@yahoogroups.com
Betreff: [JasonConnery] Legends 2006

Thanks, Tone and Annie, for your support.

Yes, Tone, they knew I was a wheelchair-user - I was at the last
Legend last year. And they knew I was coming to the next one because
I told them and was very enthusiastic about it.

So they knew that when choosing a venue it should be accessible -
not just for me but for ANY fans who are wheelchair-users and wished
to attend.

And they have had since last Autumn to look around carefully and
choose a venue accessible to all.

It's not as if this is all short notice - Legend 2006 is not till
next August...

I don't know, I just find it all very discrimatory, and you're
right, Annie, it is exclusion and segregation in a way - after all,
I'm being segregated here by having to stay at another hotel away
from all my friends.

That is, if there was a suitable -accessible - hotel to stay AT. 
They told me of this one 20 minutes drive away but I've tried to
stay there before and know from experience it was unmanageable.

And you know something that is REALLY insulting?  They've offered me
£5 off the ticket price because I wouldn't be able to get on the
coach for the trip on the Sunday!

I mean, these organisers cannot even find a coach that can take a
wheelchair-user! - and there are coaches with that facility!

So I can't even go on the COACH with my friends and enjoy the trip
there and back.

I mean, is this segregation or what?

I sent my previous letter to the Yahoo RoS group as well, because I
wanted to share, because I wanted people to hear how I felt about
this.  It hasn't come up onlist there, so I presume it has been
blocked.

And that makes me sad, because I wasn't flaming, I was just telling
folk how I feel about something like this.

So I don't have the simple basic human right of accessibility like
everyone else - and it looks like that I don't have the simple basic
human right of free speech, either. :(  At least, not on that group
where I know the Legend organisers are members too.

Sorry to go on but I'm just so upset about this, and like I said I
wanted to share.  I'm not out to cause trouble and get in arguments
over it - but I do have the right to speak out when I feel there is
injustice.

All I wanted to do was to get together with my friends, with other
RoS fans, and have a fun weekend.  To share and to join in.  Now
that is being denied me.

Robin (either incarnation!) where are you?  We need you and the
whole spirit of what you were about, more than ever in these times,
with these attitudes....


Nikke. (One very sad RoS fan at present)