Level Playing Field is a registered charity campaigning for an inclusive matchday experience and equal access for all disabled sports fans in England and Wales
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ The first Welsh club to be awarded 'autism friendly' status โ
We explore what
@Wrexham_AFC
offer supporters with autism as part of
#WorldAutismAcceptanceWeek
๐
The sensory rooms at
@AVFCOfficial
regularly start the journey of young fans with autism, and has become an imperative facility at the football club ๐
๐ For
#WorldAutismAcceptanceWeek
, we highlight the positive changes they have made at Villa Park
๐
Today is Max's first ever matchday!
Max and his Mum can do this today because
@WBA
has installed a sensory room.
Sensory Rooms are vital tools to provide a fully accessible match day for so many sport fans and we look forward to them being introduced more across sport.
๐ฃ "There's nothing like that feeling"
๐๏ธ Attending live sport should be open to everyone, so we ask you to
#UniteForAccess
!
๐ Join us in a celebration of access and inclusion for disabled sports fans.
๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐
Today we launched our latest fan survey, which asks disabled supporters about their experiences of attending away matches
The survey will run for a month until Sunday 6 Feb
Click the link below to access the survey ๐
We have written to UEFA asking why only 38 wheelchair user spaces have been provided to
@LFC
when the Stade de France claims to have 550 wheelchair user spaces.
What has happened to those other spaces?
Read the full statement via the link below
Eddie is six years old. Heโs autistic & has learning difficulties
Thanks to
@Wolves
, he was able to watch his team in a safe, comfortable environment โฝ๏ธ
Read about the sensory room at Molineux, & how it's having a positive impact on fans:
#AccessForAll
Cardiff City FC awarded Level Playing Field's Centre of Excellence Award.
Congratulations to
@CardiffCityFC
, who become the 1st stadium in Wales to receive the award.
Read the full story here:
๐ข Level Playing Field Annual Fan Survey ๐ข
Help clubs and governing bodies improve access and inclusion for disabled supporters.
Please take our annual fan survey and share your experiences of attending live sport.
๐๐๐ก๐:
#AccessForAll
๐ฃ โThe lad has to be part of the packโ
๐บ
@Wolves
made this match day special for an eight year-old fan.
Frazer is blind and follows the game with
@ad_wolves
, loving every minute!๐
@Young_Wolves
๐ค
@LeminaM_13
Drink in this video with your monday morning coffee โ๏ธ
Archie is no different than any other young football fan. He loves his club and attends with his family.
Football has to be for all, not the selected few.
#UniteForAccess
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Last nightโs
@Lionesses
match was dedicated to
@alzheimerssoc
.
1 in 3 names were missing on their shirts, representing the third of people born in the UK today who will develop dementia.
Find out moreโก๏ธ
#Lionesses
๐ข
@lpftweets
annual fan survey is now live!
Disabled sports fans โ please share your experience of attending live sport by taking the survey:
It will only take a few minutes & the results will help to improve accessibility at stadiums across the country
๐ฃ๏ธ "My sister really enjoys it"
๐ง
@bobbyreid93
met with
@lynseyhooper
, to learn about the service
@ADFulham
provide for blind and partially sighted
@FulhamFC
supporters.
If you use audio description commentary, let us know in our annual fan surveyโก๏ธ
Attending live sports is all about those "I was there" moments!
But what if you couldn't be there due to inaccessibility and disabling factors around them?
The
#UniteForAccess
campaign is all about celebrating disability and making sure we all enjoy
#IWasThere
moments together!
๐ฌ
@Joey7Barton
's repeated use of ableist slurs is contributing to a growing problem within football.
๐ Disability abuse is rising year-on-year as a barrier to attending live sport.
โฝ๏ธ Fans must not have to tolerate abusive language while following sport in person and online.
"We have had so much support from the club"
๐ฅ
@WBA
produced a film following Kieron - a young fan with autism - during the club's dedicated Weeks of Action matchday
#WorldAutsimAcceptanceWeek
continued... ๐
๐
Improving the retail experience for colour blind fans ๐
โ
@stokecity
have made a number of changes to their new kits to assist colour blinds fans with their shopping experience at the club
#ForDisabledSportsFans
๐ค On World Down Syndrome Day, we had to take another look at the lasting friendship between
@spursdsa
โs Owen Bright and his mate, Ange Postecoglou!
#LotsOfSocks
|
#WDSD2024
Tomorrow will see
@Arsenal
officially launch their new British Sign Language service at their designated
#UniteForAccess
matchday against AFC Bournemouth.
Check out what the
@AFC_Disability
team have been up to below โฌ๏ธ๐ 1/2
We've been made aware of alleged texts from a National League North club official. We take this seriously and are launching an investigation.
Whether the text is authentic or not, the language used has no place in football or wider society.
An excellent example of proactivity demonstrating how clubs can work with LPF to make significant improvements for disabled fans ๐
@swfc
have upgraded their stadium signage with improved disability terminology
โก๏ธ
#ForDisabledSportsFans
|
#AccessForAll
This weekend marked the end of an unforgettable Unite For Access campaign!
โ What were your favourite moments from the celebrations?
Share your pictures, videos and memories in the replies, or by using
#UniteForAccess
๐ธ
Today Level Playing Field launches a first-of-its-kind survey to seek the views and opinions of disabled match-going fans who attend women's football
Click the link below, participate in the survey & help create an accessible & inclusive match day for all
โ Level Playing Field has launched its third annual fan survey, to gather valuable insight on the matchday experiences of disabled sports fans across England and Wales.
Complete the surveyโก๏ธ
Read moreโก๏ธ
We're the first club in Wales to be awarded 'Autism Friendly' status, and offer both a quiet zone within the stadium at every home match, as well as a 'quiet hub', which features seating and sensory lighting.
Please contact
@OfficialDLOWAFC
for more info.
#WxmAFC
@lpftweets
It's packing day!
We are now only a few weeks away from the launch of our new national campaign 'Unite For Access'.
We have near 100 clubs from across England and Wales signed up to highlight disability access and inclusion across the 2 weeks celebration.
#UniteForAccess
Great turn out at
@Coventry_City
to speak about access and inclusion at the club as well as the possibility of setting up a new Disabled Supporters Association (DSA)
#ForDdisabledSportsFans
#CCFC
๐ขCalling all disabled
@NFFC
supporters!
15th Feb @ 1pm, there will be a virtual meeting to discuss the creation of a Disabled Supporters Association at Forest
If you would like to know more, please email liam
@levelplayingfield
.org.uk for more info
๐ธ by
@Forza_Garibaldi
#NFFC
Thank you so much to
@LincolnCity_FC
for supporting this year's
#UniteForAccess
campaign.
I had the opportunity to speak to several disabled supporters and it would seem it's a positive future regarding accessibility at Lincoln.
We are at
@OfficialBWFC
for the 1st of 3 days filming for up coming 'Unite For Access' campaign.
This evening we are following Jack and his family match day.
#Bwfc
#UniteForAccess
Disabled people are at the heart of what we do and we will continue to work with clubs, governing bodies and disabled sports fans to achieve a fully inclusive and accessible match day experience.
#InternationalDisabilityDay
Can you help us?
๐โโ๏ธ We're looking for sports fans who have autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourette's syndrome, or other neurodevelopmental conditions, to take part in our latest research.
Deadline: Monday 8th Feb.
READ:
#AccessForAll
#UniteForAccess
is being supported by
@colourblindorg
!
1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of colour blindness.
๐๏ธ This has many implications for watching and playing sport.
Find out moreโก๏ธ
๐ฆข "๐๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ข"
Callum is a double leg amputee and has been a victim of disability abuse from a young age
He talked about his experiences on The Level Playing Field podcast:
#AccessForAll
|
@SwansOfficial
โฑ
@FulhamFC
take Weeks of Action into extra time
The club trialled their new Audio Description Commentary at their dedicated Weeks of Action matchday against
@NFFC
at Craven Cottage
๐
#ForDisabledSportsFans
On Saturday, chief executive Owain Davies presented
@MKDonsFC
with the Level Playing Field 'best away fan experience' award ๐
๐
#ForDisabledSportsFans
Thanks to
@LutonTown
for their fantastic commitment to Weeks of Action 2018
#OurMatchday
and all they did to promote our campaign aimed to highlight the positive affect that good
#access
and
#inclusion
can have on a disabled person's life.
A fantastic day yesterday at
@OfficialBWFC
Toughsheet Community Stadium at the opening of the club's new Changing Places Toilet.
A great day speaking to the supporters whose match day will massively improve due to this specialised toilet being in place.
Podcast episode coming
๐ Inaccessible public transport was revealed as a barrier for a fifth of disabled supporters, in our away fans survey.
@TransportForAll
explain how all fans can help stop plans to close train station ticket offices making this worseโก๏ธ
#NotJustTheTicket
๐๏ธ Stamford Bridge will host an Independent Chelsea Disabled Supportersโ Association Preliminary Meeting at 3pm tomorrow.
๐ค Level Playing Fieldโs fans liaison officer will join representatives from
@ChelseaFC
&
@ChelseaSTrust
at the open meeting.
Readโฌ๏ธ
6 days to go!
๐ต
@KevinDeBruyne
is on board and will show his support for
#UniteForAccess
Keep an eye out for Level Playing Field events at clubs across the country from Saturday 25 February to Sunday 12 March!
#ForDisabledSportsFans
๐ฆข
@SwansOfficial
legend & Club Ambassador
@LeeTrundle10
surprised fan Eli with a zoom call to chat about the experience at Liberty Stadium.
๐ Access & inclusion
โฝ๏ธ Missing live sport
We continue to celebrate
#WeeksOfAction
this weekend ๐ค
@EFL
Manchester City FC awarded Level Playing Field's Centre of Excellence Award. Congratulations to
@ManCity
who work closely with
@mancitydsa
and
@citctweets
to continue improving their disabled supporters' experience at the Etihad stadium. Find out more here
๐ Weโre at
@wembleystadium
to watch BSL interpreter Ben Bridger translate the national anthem ahead of the
@Carabao_Cup
final, as part of the
@EFL
โs Weeks of Action celebrations ๐ค
Ben can be seen on the big screen wearing a Level Playing Field scarf!
#ForDisabledSportsFans
We are at
@altrinchamfc
today for 'The Level Playing Field Podcast' covering the first time that a visiting club in the UK (
@Wrexham_AFC
) have brought there Audio Descriptive Commentary (ADC) to an away game so all fans can use the service. All instigated by
@WrexhamDSA
๐ Today marks
#InternationalDayofDisabledPeople
, raising awareness of the importance of creating a future where people with disabilities experience equal opportunity and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives.
๐ |
#IDPD2020
Its a basic right that everyone is entitled to appropriate toilet facilities.
That's why we will always recommend
#ChangingPlaces
are provided at all sports stadia.
Without Changing Places toilets some disabled people cannot attend sporting events.
#WorldToiletDay
#AccessForAll
๐ข On disability awareness day, we are thanking fans, players, coaches and club staff for their help raising awareness during
#UniteForAccess
!
๐ธ Share your pictures of attending live sport, to show the importance of access and inclusion๐
#DisabilityAwarenessDay
|
#DAD2023
Sunderland fan Charlie, 12, told
@bbcnewcastle
: "What panicked me was I am prone to respiratory issues and I was stuck in a big ball of blue smoke.
"It could have caused loads of problems, I could have been in hospital."
#SAFC
#BCFC
๐ Young Bluebirds fan Harry Evans was named
@CCFC_Foundation
Community Participant of the Season, at
@CardiffCityFC
's awards evening, alongside his father Chris.
๐ฃ๏ธ "I canโt thank the Club and Foundation enough for the accessibility."
Readโก๏ธ
#CityAsOne
Do you live in North or West Wales and would like to attend the
@Cymru
men's game on Sep 25th but can't find accessible transport to get to Cardiff?
In partnership with
@FAWales
,
@Cymru
and Cymru DSA, you could get FREE transport to the game; you only require a match ticket!
It was a win for the home team at Bloomfield Road on
@BlackpoolFC
#WeeksOfAction
match day that saw many young disabled supporters attending their first match day ever!
Thank you to the
@BFCCT_
for making today happen... Podcast episode on today's adventure coming soon.
๐ The 2023 Level Playing Field Annual Fan Survey results have been published!
๐ The report includes the top ten barriers to disabled fans attending live sport and trends across a three-year period.
Readโก๏ธ
"If you can make a fellow disabled supporter feel respected, valued, and made to feel like they matter for that hour and a half, I think thatโs priceless."
A lovely Thursday morning read. The story of the only league club in Somerset with a DSA.
๐๏ธ It's
#InternationalWheelchairDay
!
๐ Throughout
#UniteForAccess
, we are celebrating access and inclusion for wheelchair users and all disabled fans!
๐๏ธ We must continue to campaigning for improvements across England and Wales.
Level Playing Field calls on
@UEFA
to widen its review into the Champions League Final to include why wheelchair user spaces were used to house media and potentially corporate guests.
Read the full statement via the link below
Great work by
@LiverpoolDSA
and
@spiritofshankly
showcasing outstanding leadership and the importance of supporter associations.
We know how hard
@LiverpoolDSA
have been working behind the scenes to ensure disabled
#Liverpool
supporters' voices are heard.
Great work ๐
Our joint statement with
@spiritofshankly
on the decision by
@UEFA
(below) to refund ALL
@LFC
fans who were at UCL 2022. We will continue to work with
@UEFA
to ensure the 21 recommendations from the Independent Review are actioned YNWA
๐๏ธ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธโ๏ธ
We want to hear about the experiences of disabled supporters, who attend matches in the women's game.
Fill in our first-of-its-kind surveyโก๏ธ
Read moreโก๏ธ
1 in 10 of reported disability hate crimes take place online and sadly this continues to rise.
Level Playing Field will join English football in the social media boycott this weekend:
#EnoughIsEnough
โIt was absolutely fantastic, she spent her time calm and settled."
๐ As part of
#WorldAutismAcceptanceWeek
, we're sharing interviews with fans & clubs ๐ฐ
@SwansDSA
's Catherine Dyer discussed the positive changes
@SwansOfficial
's sensory room has made
๐ฅ Thank you to the disability access officers who attended yesterday's EFL conference!
We valued discussing what matters at your clubs, from fan engagement to facilities and so much more.
#EFLTogether
๐ค
Enjoy some of this season's
#UniteForAccess
activity, from across
@EFL
โฌ๏ธ
We all love sport. Without it, life can be hard. But now more than ever we need to pull together as one team to support our communities.
Clubs and players across the country have been playing their part to help some of the most vulnerable through these challenging times.
Into extra time here at
@SouthamptonFC
vs
@LCFC
Good accessibility means that disabled fans can attend live sport and enjoy those 'I was there' moments.
#UniteForAccess