Just because I’m deafblind doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have equal access to live events

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you’ll have seen the wall-to-wall coverage of the news of Oasis’s reunion tour, scheduled for summer 2025. I was a huge fan of the Britpop band back in the day, seeing them twice, in Manchester and Cardiff.

Sadly however, the nightmarish ticket booking process for this reunion tour, and the reaction I’ve faced for speaking out about my experience, has left me looking back in anger.

Like many others, I was desperate to get tickets for these long-awaited shows. I’m deafblind, so I needed to book a companion ticket, so that someone can come with me and support me at the event.

To book accessible tickets for Wembley Stadium – for example, if you need a companion ticket like me, or a wheelchair accessible ticket – you need to phone a telephone line. It’s not possible to buy your tickets online, like everyone else.

On the day Oasis tickets went on sale, I called the phone line nearly 800 times across a two hour timeframe. (I deserve a medal for persistence if nothing else!)

After failing to get tickets, I shared my experience of this frustrating and challenging process with the press. In response, I received a deluge of negative comments. Mainly, these could be broken down into two categories, which I’ve summarised below – along with my explanations of the misconceptions and misunderstanding behind these hurtful comments.

‘Why do deafblind people want to go to concerts when they can’t see or hear the band?’

This was a really common response to my expression of disappointment at not getting Oasis tickets.

“If someone is deafblind, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are totally deaf and totally blind. Many deafblind people are able to see and/or hear to some extent. Everyone is affected in different ways.”

In most cases, I think people who say this don’t understand what “deafblind” means.

If someone is deafblind, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are totally deaf and totally blind. Many deafblind people are able to see and/or hear to some extent. Everyone is affected in different ways.

I am totally blind, and I have hearing loss. I wear two cochlear implants to help counteract this.

In practice, what this means for me is that I can enjoy live music. I recently saw Taylor Swift and had an amazing time!

But I do need support to be able to access these events. Whether that’s a ticket for someone to support me and guide me at the gig, or an accessible ticket booking process.

‘You just want special treatment – equality means being disappointed you didn’t get tickets like everyone else!’

This was another common message I received in online comments after sharing my story. But it’s absolutely not the case that I want special treatment.

“It’s important to remember that disabled people are more likely to be chronically lonely. Making sure that we can access event tickets as easily as possible is one way to reduce isolation, and make us feel like we’re a part of big cultural events, just like everyone else.”

The whole point of me sharing my story was that I believe accessible tickets should be sold in exactly the same way as all other tickets. So, in this case, online through Ticketmaster.

Sense research has shown that 28% of people with complex disabilities report struggling to buy tickets for events.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time disabled people have struggled getting tickets for events at Wembley. Last year, disabled fans reported struggling to book accessible tickets for Taylor Swift.

It’s important to remember that disabled people are more likely to be chronically lonely. Making sure that we can access event tickets as easily as possible is one way to reduce isolation, and make us feel like we’re a part of big cultural events, just like everyone else.

That’s why I’m calling on Wembley to make their accessible tickets bookable in the same way as other tickets.

When I went to see Taylor Swift, it was at a different venue, and I was able to book my ticket online, so I know it can be done.

In my view, selling accessible tickets in the same way as non-accessible tickets should be the norm. It doesn’t mean getting “special treatment” – just having the same opportunities to enjoy live entertainment as everybody else.