They have what they describe as "dynamic" or "fluctuating" disabilities, which means sometimes they require mobility aids such as a walker or a stick.
asserted
they → have → walker
"I haven't been DJ’ing, because it can be hard to ask for [accommodations]," they said.
asserted
they → dj’e → accommodations
"There are also nights that you couldn't just go out in the city and go to a night without planning it extensively …
asserted
you → be → it
I think I'm at a point now where I'm not actually going out as much as I'd like to."
asserted
I → think → point
At the clubs they do play at, Mx Zilla said generally, accessibility was "not great".
asserted
accessibility → play → clubs
It is an issue that has prompted Dane Gorrel, who owns Club 77 in Darlinghurst, to make some major changes.
asserted
who → prompt → changes
"We programmed some artists with disability a couple of times … and there was always issues with setting it up, and making it right, and making it comfortable for them," he said.
asserted
he → program → them
"Making the club accessible has been something that we've been looking at for a very long time.
asserted
we → make → time
"
Redesign focuses on accessibility
The electronic music venue has been a fixture of the city's nightclubbing scene for almost three decades.
asserted
venue → focus → decades
Longtime patrons would be familiar with the steep set of stairs at its entry way, leading to a moody, tight techno basement.
asserted
patrons → lead → basement
But earlier this year, it used a grant from the NSW government to undergo an extensive renovation.
asserted
it → use → renovation
After months of work, Club 77 reopened in late July with a redesign focused on accessibility.
asserted
Club → reopen → accessibility
The club sought advice from an accessibility consultant and other members of the disabled and electronic music communities.
asserted
club → seek → communities
The back-alley entrance has a ramp and a wheelchair lift, accessible bathrooms have been installed, part of the bar has been lowered, and there is a dedicated sensory area off the dance floor.
asserted
part → have → floor
The DJ booth can be adjusted for a performers' height, and can move forward and backward to accommodate mobility aids.
Haptic vests, which vibrate to the beat of the music, are also available for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
The more accessibility upgrades, 'the better'
Interior designer Kristie Paul was brought onboard for the project.
"I've been here probably about 400 times … so I was very happy to be involved," she said.
asserted
she → adjust → project
"We didn't want to take the character away from [Club] 77, we just wanted to upgrade it."
asserted
we → want → it
Mr Gorrel said they wanted to go beyond just the "common practice" accessibility upgrades, like installing ramps or accessible bathrooms.
asserted
they → say → ramps
"It was kind of a difficult process to find how to make the club accessible, and past examples of other venues that have actually done it," he said.
asserted
he → find → it
"From our research and talking to people, nothing is ever fully accessible, so we've done everything we possibly can to be as accessible as possible."
uncertain
we → talk → everything
The club is also rolling out training programs for staff, so they can better cater to patrons with disability.
asserted
they → roll → disability
Mx Zilla said the changes would make a big difference.
asserted
changes → say → difference
"Just being able to turn up and have things being accessible to you would just be amazing, and not having to feel like you're a problem for asking for things.
asserted
you → turn → things
"That is really going to make things a lot easier, for a lot of people."
asserted
things → go → people
Mr Gorrel said he would like to see other venues follow suit.
asserted
venues → say → suit
"The more of these types of accessibility upgrades happen, the better," he said.
asserted
he → happen → upgrades
"My advice would be to do your research, to put your time in, speak to the right people, consult the community.
asserted
advice → do → community
The best advice you can get is someone actually with lived experience."
asserted
you → get → experience
A win for the wider community
Mx Zilla said for some venues, the easiest improvement they can make is often just letting the public know if they are accessible.
asserted
they → say → venues
"The communication between venues and punters is really lacking, especially with like Facebook and Instagram, they're not updating things," they said.
asserted
they → update → things
At Club 77, Mr Gorrel said feedback on the renovations had been positive.
asserted
feedback → say → renovations
"There's been patrons that have come in and they've just been excited that they can actually get in the venue safely by using the lift, they can order a drink at the bar, and then they can go to the toilet comfortably and get around the entire club without having any issues.
asserted
they → be → issues
"If you go back all those years ago, it was all about minority communities, and that's where this entire scene has been built off.
asserted
scene → go → communities
"We just wanted to honour that history, and move forward into a new chapter."
asserted
We → want → chapter
The Aporia