Is ‘optics of inclusion’ becoming too common of a practice amongst businesses and consumers?

I believe it is. It can be hard to figure out whether something or someone is intentional behind their inclusion activities or if it’s just for show. How do we as a community become socially aware of choices to be inclusive within our events and spaces?

In our current climate, there have been countless examples accommodating the challenges of inclusion within events and spaces. As a case in point, the 2023 Sydney Laneway Festival experienced issues from their disability patrons. The festival attendees were even made to them feel unwelcome from the issues encountered. They were turned away from the accessible viewing platform. They had difficulty locating accessible bathrooms. One may probably wonder, why were they turned around as ticketed-goers living with disability? One may also wonder what planning was in place to support inclusion such as locating accessible bathrooms? Clearly, the mistreatment of the patrons cannot be undone, but imperative to do better and improve on is priority. We can prescribe the Laneway Festival as one with a supportive framework that is representative of an inclusive audience availing spaces and events.

Reflecting on my own lived experience has allowed me valuable insights into these challenges. I had attended the ATP Cup earlier year at Sydney Olympic Park and found the first 30 minutes hard. I had gone to the event with other ticketed holders in wheelchairs. The main issue for us was locating legal and accessible drop-off zones. To add, it was raining heavily which posed another challenge. There was a lack of support from the tournament staff on how to best access the tennis. This was clearly overlooked as a feature that could’ve benefited all event goers and not just for an "inclusion” crowd.

It poses the question again, are we truly inclusive? Have we removed barriers for full participation? However, it becomes more of a numbers game with business when having those conversations around inclusion. How much is it going to cost to build this? Are we going to make a return if we promote it this way? And how we combat this at Out & Seek, is simply illustrate the value of the dollar when you design for it to be used and paid for by everybody in the market. Businesses’ often get bogged into thinking about inclusion as a political correctness narrative without actually investing in the work to do it.

A growing trend that we are witnessing is more businesses taking accountability for their faults and creating dialogue to support individuals with lived-in experience of inclusion. For instance, a recent outing by a father and a son to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) for an AFL game, had them scrambling to find their paid-for seating which was taken up by TV networks. Feelings of disappointment and lack of support were evident from them. But, MCG staff handled the issue well and provided better seating which offered them a great viewing experience. However, both men raised the concern about “keeping wheelchair zones available - just like parking spots for the disabled.” In future, the AFL, MCG and Broadcast partners acknowledge the need to come to a solution by suspending the use of wheelchair zones for TV Networks, thus becoming available for all patrons to use. While at the 2023 Australian Open (AO) we have seen a greater representation of inclusion. Dylan Alcott led the first All-abilities Day at this year’s tournament in an effort to celebrate and provide opportunities for everyone to experience the AO.

In summary, disillusioning between the optics of inclusion with real action-led items on it is key. It’s important for us to keep organisations accountable and to help drive great community participation. We see it happening now formed by the the conversations around us as the more we talk about it. Access and inclusion is not some niche content posted on a website, or a trendy opportunity for a business to highlight its unique approach to it. It’s part of the life we lead and that normalcy should be standardised across the board. The more events and spaces we design, attend and advocate inclusion for, it becomes more real through the change we want to create.

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