Disabled concertgoer reports denied assistance at Moby concert

A woman with a mobility disability says event staff failed to help her reach Moby’s concert in Vilnius, where she later injured her shoulder on the way out, LRT reported. The concert organiser apologised but said it had not known in advance about her need for assistance, while Lithuania’s Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson identified possible signs of discrimination.

Justina, a Lentvaris resident with muscular dystrophy, said she knew the route up the steep hill at Kalnų Park, a park in Vilnius, could be difficult. Before the concert, she contacted the ticket distributor and organiser, L Tips Agency LT, to ask how she could access the venue.

She said she received no information. Justina arrived by taxi with friends and looked for staff after seeing the route to the concert area.

According to Justina, she asked an employee what she should do because she had a disability but did not have a car displaying a permit that would allow it to drive through the area. She said the employee responded that the venue was for entertainment, not a clinic, and that staff would not transport people in wheelchairs.

Justina and a friend who also has a mobility disability eventually climbed the hill themselves. She said the journey was difficult and painful. Staff helped them find their seats at the top.

Her difficulties continued after the concert. While walking down the hill, Justina stumbled and injured her shoulder. Emergency medical workers helped her safely complete the descent.

She said doctors suspected a sprained or possibly torn ligament.

Ombudsperson sees possible discrimination

Gintas Putninas, director of L Tips Agency LT, responded to LRT Radio’s questions in writing. He apologised for the situation but said the company had not known about Justina or her need for assistance in advance.

Putninas said all event staff had been informed that they must assist people with disabilities.

Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson Birutė Sabatauskaitė said the incident showed possible signs of discrimination. She said a person in such a situation had the right to submit a complaint, after which the case would be assessed individually.

Sabatauskaitė said event organisers must ensure that services are accessible to people with disabilities and take individual measures when necessary. People with disabilities have the right to use services on the same basis as others, she said, adding that service providers must ensure individual assistance when it is required.

According to the Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the problem is not isolated. A 2024 study found that four out of five cultural institutions assessed were inaccessible to people with disabilities.