Jill McAuley, a quadriplegic woman from Woodinville, Washington, says attending a concert at the Tacoma Dome would require her to buy an extra ticket for the caregiver she depends on.
She has sued the city of Tacoma, alleging that the policy forces her to pay more to attend because of her disability, KIRO 7 reported.
Here's what to know
The dispute began when McAuley was told her caregiver would not be admitted free to a concert at the Tacoma Dome.
Her federal lawsuit names the city of Tacoma, which runs events at the venue, and argues that requiring a second ticket violates her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
After a car crash at 18 left her quadriplegic, McAuley began using a motorized wheelchair. She needs a caregiver at events to help her with crowds and to respond if something goes wrong.
Her lawyer, Conrad Reynoldson, head attorney at Washington Civil and Disability Advocate, argued that requiring her to buy another ticket amounts to "a disability surcharge, as we call it, that results in people with disabilities having to pay twice as much when they go to events," per KIRO 7.
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McAuley noted to the station that other large venues have taken a different approach.
She said her caregiver has usually been admitted at no charge at places including Lumen Field, Climate Pledge Arena, and several theaters.
More background
"To access my phone, I have a pointer — a stylus — on a wrist brace," McAuley explained, per KIRO 7, adding that there are still limits to what technology can do for her.
"I have a set of caregivers," she said when asked about the additional assistance she needs.
According to McAuley, their support determines whether she can attend an event safely at all.
The case centers on one concert, but it raises questions about access at public entertainment venues everywhere. Those spaces are meant to bring communities together, and policies that require disabled guests to pay more to participate can leave them excluded.
To McAuley, concerts matter in part because her disability already keeps some other activities out of reach.
"It's really important for me, because of my disability, I can't participate in every social activity or hobby or passion that others might be able to, but attending a concert is something that I really enjoy," she told KIRO 7.
What's being done?
Before filing suit, McAuley tried asking about a caregiver ticket herself.
"I sent them an email and asked if they honored this or recognized it, and they responded back with a letter saying that they did not. And so that's when I reached out to Conrad," she recalled.
After that, Reynoldson helped her bring a federal case against Tacoma, arguing that the Americans with Disabilities Act entitles her to reasonable accommodations.
Where can I learn more?
Accessibility problems like the one McAuley describes often show up in everyday public spaces.
• A resident identified what they said was an ADA issue after a neighbor blocked the sidewalk.
• A wheelchair user filmed neighbors refusing to trim overgrown plants that narrowed the sidewalk.
• A woman using a wheelchair said some vehicles are just too big, like a truck that blocked her access.
• Another person condemned selfish behavior that impaired a blind family member's safe path.
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