Green Access & Mobility Areas - GAMA

Hi - any report back from the Out of the Ordinary festival?? - and could we start an email list of all the visitors etc we get to this site, to try and have a sort of newsletter, that would be expecially useful in the spring when festivals are setting up and we are at the initial stages of getting involved with their arrangements?? It would be great if we could recomjend to festivals that we can .. so many people wanting to come, if only they could arrange charging facilities, etc

I had never come across the GAMA team at festivals before or used the GAMA area. I can see how it could have made things so much better for festivals in the past. I still haven't cracked the art of comfortable festival going with both my and my sons disabilities but this was one huge step forward.

I think the staff in the GAMA area were particularly helpful and understanding, they were also very alert to identify any changes in their area and seemed to maintain an awareness of what was happening.

The most helpful aspects of the GAMA area for me were accessability to the festival and the on location toilets. I usually end up half way through festivals in much discomfort and pain but this festival I only had my derranged and harrassed mind to deal with - one step at a time!

Any comments from the Glade disabilty area? - I just came back from it, and thought Seagh and her helpers ran a lovely little area to keep everyone safe and happy. Thankyou. Jos.

The Big Green Gathering has been cancelled.
Please see www.big-green-gathering.com for details. I have just got back from Fernhill farm where we were getting ready to meet and entertain all our GAMA visitors.

I will be going to this years gathering, and i have been totally overwhelmed by the work the Gamma team has done over the years to make it what it can offer today. I for one can go knowing that my condition of MS will be catered for in all aspects on site, right from adapting my wheelchair to specialist medical help if required. The peace of mind this has given me allows me to look forward to a wonderful 5 days away with my fiance Darran and this will be our first holiday together since we have been together. This will also allow both of us to learn and be more tuned into our rights and cant wait to be able to help others in a similar position that disability discrimination teaching and learning is an evolving process. Thank you all in the Gamma team and cant wait to meet you all. 11 days to go! See you all there. Zoey Seymour and Darran Webb xx Peace to all. xx

Sunrise 2009 report now on this website
with photographs.

Sunrise 2009 report is on this website- web designer is working on formatting and photographs so please come back to see the technicolour version. If you were there please send your stories and pictures.

I think you'r right, having just come back from the Sunrise festival, where we had a very "open plan" GAMA field, it was noticible how many people with disabilities, eg, walking difficulties, camped near to us, and I'm sure that just by our presence there is encouraging people to have the confidence to come to festivals whereas befire they may have not risked it, or just come for the day. .. All of which is really good.

we stayed in the gamma field during 2007. everyone was really freindly and helpful, which put us at ease and made us less insecure!

The GAMA team encourage festivals allow guide dogs and other specially trained assistance dogs into festival sites. This involves creating a fenced exercise area near where the owner will be camping.
There also needs to be a ticket/wristband/laminate ID system to prove which dogs have been approved.

there are good reasons for banning pet dogs
- many festivals are on farms where livestock are in adjacent fields
-stray dogs have gathered in packs at festivals
-the crowds and noise of a festival may upset a dog not selected and trained to deal with such situations.
-dogs may be excluded by the event licence.

I suggest you challenge festivals that refuse to make "reasonable adjustments" for guide dogs.
Sometimes they forget to make exceptions when imposing a blanket ban, but will be sympathetic to a personal request.

The GAMA team have arranged for guide dogs to be
allowed into the Big Green Gathering if this is arranged in advance.

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