I was fortunate to attend to The Curated Plate Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind Retreat. It has been quite some time since I attended such a function, as the ‘unknowns’ can at times be a little overwhelming, the possibility of being faced with a hurdle often resulting in my simply not attending.

Prior to the date, I was able to go on to the Cerge website and obtain a significant amount of information about the property, from the ground surface to the overall terrain. The sensory guide detailed anticipated sounds, smells, sights and ‘feels’, and while my disability is physical, gaining access to the sensory guide was actually reassuring and enabled me to further picture the venue, and how I may feel on arrival.

Through the app and website I was able to find out that the entrance was gravel, on which I have huge difficulty walking. On expressing my hesitation on arrival, I was able to be dropped right at the entrance, despite the parking in that area being occupied by ‘check in’ tents. I was offered a seat, and was made to feel not only welcome, but encouraged to seek assistance for anything at all if needed, no matter how minor. Staff happily offered suggestions as to how to navigate the terrain better, things to be careful of (a particularly steep area), and offer ideas as to how to gain more from the experience of the festival. Not only did I feel welcome, but I felt confident that if I needed assistance at any time, that assistance would not be far away, nor would it be a bother.

During the event, I was able to sit and relax with a plate and a drink. When staff noticed me experiencing difficulty (such as in rinsing the glass between drinks or taking a plate to the requisite area), assistance was offered respectfully, without making me feel awkward or a bother. The staff were clearly genuine people seeking to help an attendee get the best from the experience of the festival. At no point did I feel a burden to anyone, I just felt part of the event.

When it was time to leave, staff happily arranged the groundskeeper to pick me up in his little buggy and drive me back to where the car was parked, all with a smile. What to me seemed to be people going out of their way was, to the staff, simply part of the way they worked. Nothing was too much trouble, and every effort was made to make me, and other attendees, enjoy the festival to the fullest.

Cerge enabled me to go outside my comfort zone, and made me realise that now, thanks to Cerge, that comfort zone has grown enormously. I’m excited at what the future may hold, as things that may have previously felt impossible or unachievable are now within reach.