SEC URIT Y F E AT URE
IT IS FRUSTRATING when you have a disability and they don’t let you in
Chelsea Deeley Gig Buddies
Everyone has a right to access the community and live the life they choose. But for some, support, respect, patience and avoiding assumptions can go a long way into breaking down the barriers that many people encounter - particularly those living with a disability.
18 SEC UR IT Y IN S IDE R | OCTOBER–DECEM BER 2026
We at Gig Buddies Sydney, a not-for-profit committed to promoting the rights of people with learning disabilities to live the lifestyle of their choosing, know the vital role that security personnel play in keeping people safe in our community. They can help intervene in challenging situations and provide assistance when help is needed. However, based on the experiences and stories shared from those within our community, we’re also aware that not all security officers have an understanding of people with disabilities - especially those living with an ‘invisible disability’, such as autism. The premise of the Gig Buddies project is simple: Going out to see bands, clubbing, or catching up with friends is part of everyday life for many people. However, if you have a learning disability you may need support to do this. We have found many people with learning disabilities aren’t able to lead full and active social lives because their support workers finish long before the night’s got going. As such, Gig Buddies pairs up adults with learning disabilities (aka our buddies) with volunteers, both of whom share similar interests. The gig buddies then catch up regularly to experience fun things together within their local community. In over ten years of operation, we’ve organised over 1000 social events at various venues across Sydney and the Central Coast. These have included some private events, and we’ve been able to work with a variety of security officers. At one such event, Gig Buddies user-led committee member Nalyn had an encounter with a security officer at The Shark Hotel in Sydney. It was for the Gig Buddies 7th Birthday Event. “I think the [officer] didn’t know that I had a disability, even though I was with my support worker,” Nalyn explains. “Me and my support worker are the same age, and they let her in but not me”. Nalyn says that the security officer asked her for ID, which she did not have on her person at the time due to it not being a requirement to show it if the person looks over 25. As Nalyn was in her late-30s at the time, she did not think she would need ID to get into a Gig Buddies private event. “In the end my support worker explained to the officer ‘she’s here for an event that you are hosting, she is part of Gig Buddies’ and in the end, he let me in,” Nalyn said.
S E C URIT Y FE ATU RE
“It is frustrating when you have a disability and they don’t let you in. Normally when I go out with my parents, they let me in. But when I’m out with Gig Buddies, I always try to remember my ID in my phone.” Nalyn says she feels like some people make assumptions about her when trying to get into venues. It’s a sentiment that is echoed by fellow Gig Buddies member, Ben. Ben is a young man with Cerebral Palsy and describes an encounter with a security officer at Goro’s in Surry Hills a couple of years ago. “We’d finished up karaoke and went to the Keg and Brew down the road. After this, we then decided to head back to Goro’s to finish the night off. The bouncer at Goro’s asked me how many drinks I’d had. I’d only had two so I told him this, but said “sorry mate, not tonight” and said I couldn’t come in.” It was at this point that a Gig Buddies staff member stepped in to explain what Gig Buddies is and then asked to speak with the manager. Ben explains: “Then [the manager] came out and I explained to her ‘I’ve got cerebral palsy, I’ve got low blood pressure’. She asked me if I’d had anything to eat, which I had. She eventually let us in.” Ben also had another similar experience at Watsons, Moore Park. Ben headed to the venue from work to meet up with friends and was running late – arriving a little puffed. The security officer questioned his moves prior to arrival and was hesitant to let him in due to incorrect assumption that he was already intoxicated. “I guess it’s hard when your disability is not as obvious,” Ben said. “I’ve now had to resort to wearing one of those hidden disabilities sunflower bands and having one of those passes in my wallet every time I go out” “Before [these experiences] my mum really didn’t think I’d need to do that”.’ Both Nalyn and Ben feel that listening and clear communication is crucial when interacting with security officers. And as an organisation, we have witnessed plenty of examples where such skills have been effectively demonstrated.
One recent example was during a trivia night that we attended in Macarthur, southwest Sydney. A table near our group were having a few drinks, laughing, and getting excited about their answers and occasionally swearing. They weren’t doing anything particularly wrong and were not directing their behaviour towards us. However, one of our buddies started to become upset by their actions and started calling out that they were drunk. A security officer overheard her calls and came over to ask what was happening. He patiently listened to her and could see that she was genuinely upset. He told her that he would go and have a word with the group. He politely spoke to the other table and asked them to tone it down a little, without making a big deal out of it or getting anyone in trouble. This was enough for the buddy to feel like she had been listened to, and she was happy to return to the trivia. The security officer handled this with care, respect and patience - keeping everyone calm and avoiding it turning into a bigger issue. Another example was from the COVID era. We were attending a gathering at The Argyle Hotel in The Rocks, and one of our buddies struggled to use the QR code technology to order food. He and a Gig Buddies staff member went to the bar to order instead. As it was during the social distancing days, a bouncer approached to ask what was going on. After a chat about the situation and our organisation, the conversation then progressed into some of the troubles we, as a group, had previously encountered - with a focus on the misconception that buddies appear drunk when they’re so often not. The security officer was understanding, listened and allowed them to order at the bar. We believe that people with learning disabilities have the right to stay up late, meet new people, go to events and have some fun - and security officers can play a vital role in ensuring this happens without incident.
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