People with physical disabilities will be able to access personal support services on demand at RBC Bluesfest this year, festival organizers announced Tuesday.
Bluesfest has partnered with Whimble Care Inc., an Ottawa-based app that connects individuals with disabilities to experienced caregivers.
Throughout the festival, which runs July 6 to 16 at LeBreton Flats, patrons will be able to use Whimble’s network free of charge to request assistance with daily activities, including eating, drinking and bathroom breaks. The company will offer personal care attendant services on-site in what it calls a “first-of-its-kind collaboration” in local music festival history that sets a new standard for accessibility.
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“We’re very pleased to have Whimble on board to offer personal care to our festival fans with physical disabilities,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of RBC Bluesfest, in a news release. “This is something we take seriously in terms of customer satisfaction. It is important to us that the overall festival experience is memorable and hassle-free for all our patrons.”
The caretech startup, which has been supported by Invest Ottawa, is currently running a beta trial of its app in the central Ottawa area, with the goal of extending its service area.
“Whimble was founded on the premise that people with physical disabilities should be able to live life on their own terms, without having to worry about how and when they can access personal care assistance,” says Emma Brown, founder of Whimble. “We are thrilled to partner with Ottawa’s RBC Bluesfest, whose like-minded values recognize the importance of building a truly inclusive experience for all festival-goers this summer.”
