Going out in a wheelchair: Felize’s experiences

Photos in the article: Anika Danielle Wagner

Going out in a wheelchair: Felize’s experiences

Berlin’s Berghain is considered a legendary myth by many — famous for its strict door policy and the countless stories surrounding the club. As exclusive as it is for most people, for Felize Fiedler, who uses a wheelchair, it represents a space where inclusion is truly lived. In this article, we take a look at her personal experiences at club nights, festivals, and concerts. She talks about the barriers she still encounters, the moments when inclusive concepts actually work, and the role of modern technologies like the Scewo BRO, which give her independence and freedom when going out.

When obstacles dampen the experience.

For wheelchair users like Felize, going out usually requires careful planning. At festivals and concerts, physical and organizational barriers often shape the entire experience. The journey itself can already be challenging — for example, when shuttle services are not wheelchair-accessible. On-site, uneven ground, steps, or far-away accessible toilets make it harder to move around and fully take part in the event. These are issues that could easily be avoided with thoughtful, inclusive planning.

“A successful event, for me, means having fun and feeling like part of the crowd,” Felize explains. Yet even measures intended to support inclusion can sometimes have the opposite effect. Wheelchair platforms, for instance, offer a good view of the stage but remove wheelchair users from the action — making them feel, as Felize puts it, like they’re being “placed aside” rather than included.

Moments like bottles being carelessly put under her wheelchair or people asking if they can place their jacket on her chair show that awareness still has room to grow. At the same time, Felize meets these situations with humor, responding with a wink: “An integrated coat hook — now that’s a design idea Scewo could pass on to the development team.”

What Berghain gets right.

“Inclusion and diversity, for me, mean giving everyone the best possible conditions to participate in events,” Felize explains. True inclusion can only succeed when people with specific needs are actively involved in the planning process and organizers are open and willing to engage with new accessibility concepts.

For Felize, Berghain is an example of how inclusion can work when it’s taken seriously. Accessible restrooms, elevators connecting the different floors, and barrier-free dance areas enable real participation. Even more important to her, however, is the attitude of the people inside: “Maybe it’s the strict door policy and the no-phone rule, but I feel like everyone there can be who they are — or even slip into a different role for a night,” she says. At Berghain, it’s all about what connects people: the music, the dancing, the shared experience. And with a grin she adds, “What happens in Berghain stays in Berghain.”

Felize’s loyal companion.

The stair-climbing wheelchair Scewo BRO is always by Felize’s side when she goes out. With it, she can move independently and comfortably between different floors or across festival grounds. The integrated seat lift makes a particularly big difference for her on a social level: “It puts me at the same height as everyone else, and I don’t always have to fight my way to the front row just to see anything.” Being at eye level, she says, changes not only her own experience but also the way others perceive her.

With BRO, she doesn’t need anyone to push her, nor does she depend on elevators that might not be working. The stair-climbing function allows her to navigate steps or staircases on the spot — even if she admits that it still takes a tiny bit of courage every time.

BRO attracting attention is nothing new for Felize — whether on the streets of Berlin during the day or in a club at night. People stop, ask questions, and are impressed by its futuristic design. “Funny enough, someone at Berghain once asked me if my wheelchair was an AI,” she says. For Felize, BRO has long been more than just a wheelchair: it’s a reliable companion that gives her freedom, spontaneity, and true participation.

Be bold!

Whether you want it or not, as a wheelchair user you inevitably attract the occasional stare, Felize says. But for her, that’s no reason to hold back — quite the opposite. “Being different, in my view, doesn’t mean you have to hide.” She wants to encourage other wheelchair users to show up, to be visible, and not let the thought of potential obstacles stop them. “Be bold!” she says. Only through presence can society start to change.

Felize also directs a clear message at event organizers: openness and a willingness to rethink existing structures are crucial if inclusion is truly meant to be lived. “Be open and have an agile mindset. Create spaces that don’t make us feel like second-class people, and design concepts that allow us to really be part of the crowd.” Real inclusion in nightlife isn’t created by ramps or platforms alone, but through dialogue, awareness, and the courage to question the status quo together. Or, as Felize puts it, through “a bit more openness and the willingness to actively engage with those affected.”

To fellow wheelchair users, she offers one final piece of advice: don’t let setbacks discourage you. Good preparation can help — checking the location in advance, considering a companion, planning accessible routes. Even if things don’t go perfectly, what matters to her is the experience itself: “In the end, life is meant to be lived — and isn’t it worse to regret things you didn’t do because of fear or doubt?”