Those attending STH presentations in the next few days - Disabled fans need your help

[Bry Nylon]

Could I once again say, as a full time carer for someone who has a disability, how appreciative I am for the support of those who have taken time to consider these issues and notably Shanker45, Ponce Mohammed Buzzer and Attila for progressing the issues.

There is nothing worse when attending an event than being isolated and made to feel different and somehow less worthy of consideration than able bodied attendees. It is physically and emotionally hurtful and whilst appreciating that it is never deliberate (although often thoughtless) and that the omnipresent "health and safety" rules must be met there is certainly much more that can be done at the Amex.

Here we have a flagship sporting arena which boasts that it will offer a peerless viewing experience. But what for the disabled? A choice of pitch level with a limited vista or an elevated seat in the gap between home and away fans where the sense of isolation and difference could hardly be more omnipresent while the image of disabled supporters becoming some sort of human shield between warring groups is hard to escape. Is it overly emotive to suggest that no other minority group could or would be treated so differently?

Disabled fans who can afford to join the 1901 club are offered exactly the facilities at a basic level that one might have expected to be available to all in a true community stadium. The chance to mingle with fellow supporters before and after the game and an elevated view amongst fellow supporters.

Is that beyond the club's ability to provide elsewhere in the stadium? Seemingly not as the away fans appear to have a superior, more inclusive, facility for fans with disability.

It isn't a question of hurt feelings or the wringing of hands of do-gooders as some, I am sure, might have it. We are a society which professes to seek to include everyone and one which rightly asserts that having a disability should not render anyone less worthwhile than any other who is fully able. The limited facilitation of customers with disability in the new stadium has, I am afraid, fallen short in relation to other stadia including many much lower down the football pyramid and with no such pretension to an integral place within their community as lauded so often by the Albion.

Sadly the failure to fully consider disabled access is not limited to the stadium itself with less dedicated parking available than even Withdean affords and a resultant requirement to arrive earlier and depart later which will undoubtedly make attending evening games even more challenging. Of course parking at the Amex is an issue but the priority with which disabled access has been addressed is questionable if inclusion were given anything more than lip service.

Many supporters with disability will be deterred by the provision currently available and most of those who attend will, I am certain, feel disappointment.

How does it affect me? As a supporter for more than 50 years who now lives at a considerable distance and on a fixed income I go to plenty of away games and even a few home matches when I can get someone to cover my caring duties but I cannot reasonably justify a season ticket and in any event my wife isn't the world's biggest football fan. Still I would love to have taken her to the Amex one day and show her our new home - she went to the Goldstone once and to Withdean once when she was able. Will I do so? Sadly I think not. We could manage the park and ride but the promised experience within the arena is too disappointing and there is no prospect that she could enjoy it.So I will go on my own when I can and perhaps reflect on a missed opportunity for the club which is a shame. Of course I don't bring in a great deal of income to the club and people with disabilities can actually cost the club in terms of lost revenue (reduction in "normal" seats available). I wonder. Does that mean that we should not matter?

What a fantastic piece of writing. Very moving.
Good luck to you and your Mrs, severnside gull.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Sadly the failure to fully consider disabled access is not limited to the stadium itself with less dedicated parking available than even Withdean affords and a resultant requirement to arrive earlier and depart later which will undoubtedly make attending evening games even more challenging. Of course parking at the Amex is an issue but the priority with which disabled access has been addressed is questionable if inclusion were given anything more than lip service.

Many supporters with disability will be deterred by the provision currently available and most of those who attend will, I am certain, feel disappointment.

I've been in contact today with Tina from BODS and with Martin Perry, to put forward a practical solution to the parking problem. In real life, I manage a not-for-profit, voluntary sector transport company that operates 18 wheelchair accessible minibuses. It is perfectly feasible to set up a dedicated, accessible park and ride facility from a designated 'blue badge' car park and run a shuttle service for anyone (including friends and family) who doesn't fancy either a long walk/push or a requirement to arrive two hours early and hang around for an hour after the final whistle.

Hopefully, something can be worked out.

 

[Uwinsc]

I've been in contact today with Tina from BODS and with Martin Perry, to put forward a practical solution to the parking problem. In real life, I manage a not-for-profit, voluntary sector transport company that operates 18 wheelchair accessible minibuses. It is perfectly feasible to set up a dedicated, accessible park and ride facility from a designated 'blue badge' car park and run a shuttle service for anyone (including friends and family) who doesn't fancy either a long walk/push or a requirement to arrive two hours early and hang around for an hour after the final whistle.

Hopefully, something can be worked out.

This sounds like a good idea. So it would be for anyone in a car with a blue badge?

 

[severnside gull]

One sensible post in seven and a half thousand - I'm getting worried my street cred will be destroyed.

Great to see the response as NSC mobilises. From past observation I am slightly concerned that as we are the source it will be viewed less objectively by those at BHAFC who need to respond but I have my fingers crossed

 

[Lord Bracknell]

This sounds like a good idea. So it would be for anyone in a car with a blue badge?

I don't see why not.

You don't have to be a disabled driver to qualify for a blue badge. But - like all blue badge parking - it's antisocial (to say the least) to deprive people who need the parking facility by mis-using a blue badge to get a space when the need for it isn't there.

 

[Uwinsc]

I don't see why not.

You don't have to be a disabled driver to qualify for a blue badge. But - like all blue badge parking - it's antisocial (to say the least) to deprive people who need the parking facility by mis-using a blue badge to get a space when the need for it isn't there.

Of course- believe me I know how annoying it is to need a space and not be able to get one.

 

[Working class pride]

Just to place my support. There is also another angle to put to the club. The goodwill, and loyalty the Albion would receive in return from the disabled community and their families would be repaid 10 fold if the Albion didn't just "accommodate" but made a point of doing everything to get the disabled, whether physically or mentally, through the turnstile.

 

[ROSM]

I attended a session today and asked Richard Hebberd about this. I don't want to prejudice the full club reply but there was put forward a structured outline in terms of facilities that would cover all types of disabled supporters, not just those in wheelchairs.

One example is the provision of seats, raised in the corners. The National Association of Disabled Supporters actually recommend this as it allows those with limited or no neck or spine movement, to view the whole pitch without needing to move themselves.

I agree it's not perfect given that there are currently no other supporters in front and it is close to the away fans. However I understand that the south stand could be used in part by home fans if the away team don't require the full stand. Until the corners are filled in, then isolation will still exist.

The south stand affords ground level access externally that places people raised in the stand without lifts or ramps. If this were moved to the north end, I don't know how easily this infrastructure could be accommodated.

The bigger issue is perhaps the parking for blue badge holders and it would seem Lord B is already providing practical advice. Could it be that NSC could help fund the renting of the buses or the parking spaces?

As I say, it's not a club response but does show that it hasn't been entirely overlooked albeit things can perhaps be improved

 

[Emily's Mum]

I went for my presentation today too & I was upset at the lack of knowledge of the disabled issues. The nice young man that got me a cup of tea when i arrived told me that ambulent disabled supporters could not sit with the rest of the disabled supporters, & so would have to put up with the inconvieniece that entails. He then went on to say that he didn't know what ambulent disabled meant.

I have now got a season ticket in the South West corner, but I was told I would be able to move into the west stand concourse at half time without any problem.

I asked about blue-badge parking & once they had located Richard Hebberd, I was told it will be allocated on a priority need basis. Lord B's suggestion sounds a cracker

 

[sagaman]

Good to see this issue is getting a proper airing and hopefully an equitable solution.

 

[Pete and Sarah]

Thanks for everything people are doing & there have been some great posts. I too am concerned that the club doesn't seem to understand what ambulant disabled means. Also, I query why the club needs to take time to consider the issues - surely this was all done at the planning stage and there was a clear accessibilty (incl parking) and disability strategy considered and produced. I'm sure I'm wrong, but it does feel as if the issues simply weren't taken seriously or not fully understood and now something is quickly being cobbled together. Its hard enough getting to games as it is - to then feel shoved out, away from other supporters & have parts of the stadium inaccessible is difficult to take. We have our presentation on Wednesday so we will raise issues then - I just hope the person doing it understands them and can resolve them.
The transport idea certainly seems like a possibility for those with Blue Badges.