Music Industry Titan Robin Millar champions Disability Rights After Concert ticket Refusal
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Despite a decades-long, glittering career working with music legends like Sade and the Rolling Stones, producer Robin Millar recently faced a stark reminder that success doesn’t shield against societal barriers for disabled people. The celebrated music mogul was denied a ticket for an accessible seat at a concert unless he could provide “proof of disability,” a demand he found both insulting and indicative of a wider problem.
Millar, 73, chair of the disability charity Scope, recounts the incident with a wry frustration, highlighting the absurdity of being asked to prove a condition that has defined much of his life. Registered blind as a teenager and entirely losing his sight in his 30s, he quipped to the venue that he could provide photographic evidence of himself “smashing straight into the wall” to demonstrate his visual impairment.
the anecdote, however, is more than just a personal grievance. It underscores a lifetime spent navigating a world ofen ill-equipped to accommodate those with disabilities, even as Millar simultaneously achieved remarkable success in the music industry.His story is one of resilience, innovation, and a growing determination to advocate for systemic change.
From Early Struggles to Studio Success
Millar’s early life was marked by a genetic condition causing deteriorating eyesight. growing up in north London in the 1950s and 60s, he described himself as a “frightened little skinny boy with Mr magoo glasses,” enduring countless tests and treatments. His parents, an Irish GP father and a Guyanese nurse mother, pursued both conventional medicine – daily vitamin A injections and stinging eye drops – and alternative therapies, “people putting their fingers on me and poking me and putting stuff on me and saying: ‘You’ll be cured.'”
Despite the lack of a medical cure, Millar refused to be defined
by his disability. He excelled academically, earning a place at Cambridge University.However, the societal attitudes towards disability were often harsh. He found that previously masked societal attitudes resurfaced, even within his own circle. He recounts a notably painful moment when his mother confessed that she would have considered abortion had she known about his eyesight. “She was so blighted by the negative side,” he said, still visibly affected by the remark.
Despite these setbacks, Millar has become a vocal advocate for disability rights. He believes that disabled people are frequently enough underestimated and denied opportunities to contribute their talents. “I can’t think of a disability so complex and profound that that person cannot make a positive contribution to the work, their habitat, their friends and the world of work, given the right possibilities and options,” he asserts.
The Fight for Inclusion and Reasonable Adjustments
Millar’s advocacy extends to challenging the legal framework surrounding disability rights. He is critical of the 35-year-old principle of “reasonable adjustment,” arguing that it allows companies to avoid meaningful change by interpreting the law narrowly. At Scope, he has championed removing the word “reasonable” from job advertisements, replacing it with a commitment to “make any adjustments to allow you to apply.”
He also points to the persistent disability employment gap, despite improvements in accessibility and anti-discrimination laws. He argues that companies who employ disabled people are demonstrably more profitable and better understand their markets.
Millar is skeptical of arguments that progress has already been made, dismissing the notion that “things are all right for disabled people” as a dangerous complacency. He is equally dismissive of the recent backlash against “woke” culture and affirmative action, stating plainly that issues like sexual harassment, sexism, and pay gaps disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
He supports financial incentives for employers to actively recruit and retain disabled employees, and is awaiting the publication of a report by Sir Charlie Mayfield on how to address the employment gap.
Ultimately, Millar believes the issue boils down to a simple truth: “It’s not pockets of disability discrimination, actually, it’s just pockets of wankers.” His life story serves as a powerful testament to the potential that is lost when society fails to embrace inclusivity and provide opportunities for all.
