Access Card Ambassadors
Hi I'm Rhi, 42 from Yorkshire and I'm the Access Card Ambassador for Festivals.
I've been attending Music Festivals for 11 years and was introduced to the Access Card at Download Festival.
The Access card makes applying for Access Facilities at Festivals extremely easy and straightforward, especially as someone with complex needs: it means I do not have to explain each need several times a year as the card symbols cover all my needs including the necessity for a +1 essential companion & being a Wheelchair user. Having the card means I don't have to worry about applying for Access Facilities and can just concentrate on having an amazing time and making memories. Without the Access Card, I would need to submit extremely sensitive paperwork covering all my illnesses and disabilities which include Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTs, Crohns Disease & Endometriosis. Having all of my requirements covered in one card in a simple format makes it easy to apply for and attend Festivals without any hassle.
It sounds like hyperbole to say having the Access Card changed my life, but it's such an important tool for a disabled festival goer, I would encourage Access Customers to have one because it really does take the stress and worry out of applying for Facilities at Music Festivals and the support and guidance given by Nimbus is second to none.
Hi I’m Iona and I’m the Access Card ambassador for theme parks!
As you have probably already guessed, I'm a theme park enthusiast.
I was born prematurely at 26 weeks which has meant my mobility, vision and sensory processing is impaired I also have dyspraxia and autism.
As you can imagine the theme park environment has definitely not been the most accessible for my needs over the years however, since getting the access card it has made getting reasonable adjustments at theme parks a lot easier. Whilst giving me the ability to access the world around me.
Through my role as the theme park ambassador I hope to share with you how I use my access card when at theme parks and hopefully give you the confidence to give theme parks a go.
I’m now 18 years old and on a one girl mission to make the theme park industry accessible there is still a long way to go but my role as theme park ambassador is really helping me on this mission.
I love working with access card providers to help improve the access facilities and services they offer disabled guests within their theme park.
Hi, my name is Emma and I am the Access Card ambassador for theatres.
Since February 2017 I have worked in the contact centre for ATG Entertainment (previously known as ATG tickets). Part of my job role is making not only standard bookings but also accessible bookings across all of out 40+ theatres nationwide using the Access Card.
I have been disabled for the last five years after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chiari Malformation in 2019 and more recently ADHD last year. Due to the Fibromyalgia and Chiari symptoms I am only able to walk one or two steps as I am in constant pain so rely on a mobility scooter when going out.
Relying on the scooter means my leisure time out of the house is limited to when someone can come out with me for support. On these occasions I go to a variety of events.. Comic Cons which has also included accidentally running over celebrities in my manual wheelchair when my stepdaughter was pushing me. I also support the local Ice Hockey team in matches both home and away, the occasional festival/gig, but more dominantly theatre shows.
Luckily, my husband likes to drive because we have visited theatres all over the country over the last few years including Sunderland (The Serial Killer Next Door, Heathers & Demon Dentist),Stockton (Queens of the Stone Age, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sarah Millican, Edinburgh (Beauty and the Beast, Six, Lion King & Jimmy Carr),Manchester (Hamilton & Bed knobs and Broomsticks), Birmingham (Penn & Teller) and London (Phantom of the Opera, Frozen, Mary Poppins). I take my niece who is ten to a lot of shows with me. It’s important for me to give her these memories growing up as I wasn’t able to chase her around play areas or do anything as physically demanding that I was able to do with my older nieces and nephews who are now grown up and do not want her to miss out on these memories of quality time spent together.
So far this year I’ve seen… Shrek the Musical, Hamilton, Aladdin, Awful Auntie, I should be so Lucky, Pretty Woman and Six.
Although musicals are my passion, I will watch all sorts of shows if it piques my interest enough. For this reason I am the Theatre Ambassador.
I also sit on the Access Cards Membership Committee which gives me the opportunity to share experiences of using the Access Card and have an input on changes and future developments.