This is the second episode of the Awkward Sisters Podcast where we have tough conversations about awkward issues in the health and disability space. In this episode, Claire shares a little bit about what the word awkward means to her and Nicole and Claire discuss challenges with accessing venues with a disability; both negative and positive. Nicole also wades in to the debate around sensory spaces in stadiums in light of Meshel Laurie’s commentary of Em Rusciano’s support of the sensory space at Marvel Stadium.

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A couple of points post podcast from Nicole and Claire

Chat 10 Looks 3 is the wonderful podcast by Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales see here https://www.chat10looks3.com/

Claire’s research indicates that Ticketek as a booking venue (for here in Adelaide; the Entertainment Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre) allows you to book more than 1 -2 tickets of accessible seating so an individual with a disability can sit with a group of people.

Nicole and Claire do support Marvel Stadium’s attempts to provide sensory spaces and hire sensory bags for people. We acknowledge that the capacity of the sensory space (and the location of it) is not optimal for the amount of people that would use the venue or experience sensory issues and other disabilities. But we do applaud the attempt. We feel it’s important to acknowledge attempts for inclusion; notably as a starting point- not, we hope, as the end point or as an act of tokenism. We’d also like to make it clear that subsequent reports of the difficulties accessing the sensory spaces at Marvel Stadium (like being asked to show papers for disability or submitting yourself for a staff member to observe and them saying “you don’t look disabled” or “you’re not having a panic attack”) is absolutely appalling. We fully support and are aware that Chloe Hooper is following up with the Stadium and we thank her for her advocacy.

Em Rusciano is an absolute legend. See her National Press Club Address here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v88Wd20GiU. Her podcast Emsolation is exclusive to Spotify and is absolutely hilarious!