Striving for a Level Playing
Field
The
Darlington Disabled Supporters Group (part of
the Darlington Supporters Trust) worked
together with Darlington Football Club to
support the National Association of Disabled
Supporters (NADS) 2010 Level Playing Field (LPF)
Weeks of Action. This disability awareness
initiative promotes the need for an inclusive
and equal experience for all fans and brings
together all clubs belonging to the professional
leagues. Over a period of two weeks, clubs
have the opportunity to show what they have
achieved for disabled supporters.
Around 30,000 disabled fans attend league
matches each season and with more than 10
million disabled people in the UK, NADS wants to
see that figure grow. The challenges faced by
disabled people are numerous and often
unexpected and NADS works alongside the football
family and government lobbying for continued
improvements and sharing good practice where it
exists.
Many people will imagine someone in a wheelchair
when thinking of disability and around 1% of the
population uses a wheelchair. However there are
many types of disability, some more hidden, and
each with specific access needs. The last
campaign focussed on ambulant disabled
supporters. The term ‘ambulant disabled’
refers to people with a wide range of
disabilities who are not regular wheelchair
users. This could include, for example, people
who have diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis
or cancer. The facilities they require would
vary depending on the specific effects of the
illness or disability.
As part of the last LPF event, (prior to the
League 2 game
against Barnet), the Darlington team were led
out by eleven Disabled mascots. Both the
mascots and the players donned Level
Playing Field T Shirts in support of the event.
In addition, a football match at
half-time between two disabled sides was planned.
If you would like to get involved in this year's
event, please contact the Disabled Supporters
Group or the Trust by
clicking here
or use our
Contact Us.
We look forward to talking and working
with you for Disabled Football Fans, their families and
Carers
The Darlington Supporters Trust (Disabled
Supporters Group) is a member of NADS, the National
Association for Disabled Supporters which was set up to
improve facilities for disabled fans across the nation.
To visit the NADS website, click here
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