Today, non-profit organization Accessible Festivals officially launches its Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program that provides a limited number of free access tickets to recreational experiences like concerts, festivals, and conventions for disabled music fans and their loved ones, marking a huge step forward towards accessibility for all throughout major events across the U.S.
Accessible Festivals is partnering with the largest festivals in the country, such as Austin City Limits Music Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, Electric Daisy Carnival, Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud NY, Stagecoach and more, to provide complimentary admission to a number of the country’s best festivals. Find more information and apply for admission via accessiblefestivals.org/ticketing.
Today’s announcement is just the latest work from the organization, with much more to come. Several leading publications throughout the music industry have taken notice of Accessible Festivals’ meaningful work. Billboard included its founder on their 2021 Billboard Change Agents list, and Forbes featured the organization for their work with the first-ever sensory-friendly music festival, Inclusion Festival.
The idea for Accessible Festivals’ Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program was born out of the organization’s founder, Austin Whitney‘s, own personal experience. In 2007, Whitney was injured in a car accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the waist down. He was consumed with depression and anxiety about his new life living with a disability. Eight months later, he attended Coachella, his first music festival. For the first time since his spinal cord injury, he was able to smile and simply enjoy life. Music festivals like this one got him through the most difficult challenge of his life. With the realization of the importance of festival accessibility, he decided to devote his life to ensuring people of all abilities can have an equal opportunity to experience live music and recreational activities to the fullest extent possible.
The program also aims to keep the legacy of Dan Grover alive, who turned his passion of music into a profession by becoming one of the first Accessibility Consultants in the live music industry. He led ADA Compliance operations on many of the nation’s largest shows including Electric Forest, Lockn’, Life is Beautiful, Outside Lands, and many more. Grover assisted thousands of disabled guests in enjoying music and was a fierce advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility.
Individuals impacted by newly acquired, temporary, or lifelong disabilities are encouraged to apply for free access to their favorite events. So far this year, Accessible Festivals has distributed complimentary admission this year to some of the nation’s largest festivals including Bottlerock Napa Valley Electric Daisy Carnival, Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud NY, Stagecoach and Tortuga Music Festival. Accessible Festival’s Ticket Grant Program currently has two dozen events this Fall which are currently accepting applications for complimentary admission. Upcoming events include Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando, Firefly Festival, Made in America Festival, Rolling Loud NY, and many others.
All the festivals participating in the program have made a commitment to all their disabled fans and have well-established ADA Compliance programs. With many friends and partners in the industry, Accessible Festivals plans to add many more festivals and other recreational events to their list. With support from live music tastemaker Live for Live Music, Accessible Festivals aims to expand live event access for all across the U.S. for years to come.
To donate, learn more about or apply for Accessible Festivals’ Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program, visit accessiblefestivals.org/ticketing and keep up-to-date with Accessible Festivals on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and their official website.
