Concerts & the disabled
A symphony concert is an auditory experience primarily. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the CSO is required to seat ADA patrons with the general population. As a result, my most recent auditory experiences at the symphony have been punctuated by the relentless mechanical breathing of oxygen machines. In an effort to solve the problem for myself, I have changed seats at intermission and learned that one oxygen machine is enough to pollute the sound in half of the auditorium. I threw in the towel after several concerts that were ruined for me by the mechanized accompaniment: walked out on Van Cliburn, did not renew the seasons tickets that I had held for at least 25 years, and refuse any invitations to attend the CSO.
In general, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been an improvement for the segment of the population to which it applies and no detriment to the able-bodied majority. It has been peripheral in my life. Waiting for a wheelchair to be loaded onto a bus is certainly no big deal. Ramps entering buildings seem common sensical. A section of seats behind glass at Boettcher Concert Hall with unimpaired sightlines and sound for people in need of oxygen would seem to be a workable compromise, except, I am told, to ADA proponents.
I have not consulted a sound engineer, but assume that improving the acoustics in Boettcher will make not only the music, but the oxygen machines, more clearly heard. The federal government mandated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Is the Denver City Council going to mandate $75 million to enhance the irritation of the approximately 175,000 annual attendees at the CSO’s performances? As a taxpayer, I sincerely hope not!
This letter has not been edited.
Mr. Williams proposal to section off people behind glass as a "workable compromise" goes against the intent of the ADA, which was to not only provide physical access be on as level of a playing field as possible (as their non-disabled counterparts).
Posted by [Louis] on June 30, 2007 03:43 PMI've been around many people with portable oxygen devices. I've never heard noises coming from them.
Explain this to me. If your in a Symphony Hall Listening to music how can an oxygen tank make more noise than an entire Symphony?
It doesn't sound logical.You sound like a person whose nose is so far up in the air ,when it rains you will drown. What a snob.
Posted by [Can I get an AMEN!] on June 30, 2007 09:55 PMYo Amen: You are beginning to sound like Fish. Chill out. I enjoy giving an Amen. Yo
Posted by Richard Grimes Risen Ape r22037@yahoo.com (ffrf.org) on July 1, 2007 02:36 PMThe acoustics are so bad in the symphony hall that I am surprised that you could hear the oxygen machine!
Posted by mikey on July 2, 2007 04:17 PM