Rotherham United are incredibly proud to be offering our support to a national research project launched by Level Playing Field.
In recent years, the Millers have worked closely with Level Playing Field to promote a positive, inclusive experience for disabled football fans and in turn, ensure that we are able to create an environment in which everyone can enjoy what we have to offer.
This week the charity announced a research project in partnership with the Sports Ground Safety Authority into the experiences of neurodiverse sports fans when attending live sports events.
Level Playing Field are seeking to recruit people who have autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia, Tourette’s Syndrome, or other neurodevelopmental conditions and who are sports fans. It does not matter whether you attend live sports events regularly, or at all, as the charity are also interested in understanding why you may not attend.
The research project will run from February 2021 managed by Britain’s largest independent social research agency, NatCen. More information about NatCen and their research can be accessed by visiting their website. You can also visit the Level Playing Field website for more details.
Ruth Hopkins, General Manager at Level Playing Field said: “There is an absence of information regarding the access requirements of neurodiverse sports fans and the current rewriting of the Accessible Stadia Guide is the ideal time to incorporate the findings from this research.
"We know that with the best of intentions in the absence of information, assumptions are often made, and we want to provide clubs and service providers with some clear and tangible guidance to ensure an inclusive, safe, and enjoyable environment for everyone. The importance of Sensory Rooms for many (now a feature at so many clubs) cannot be underestimated, but we know they are only a solution for one small cross-section of the neurodiverse spectrum. The best way to do the research is by speaking to representative organisations and to fans themselves and NatCen are very experienced in gathering this type of information.
"This is a call to action, to get in touch and to share your experiences – whether good or bad – and contribute to this important piece of work.”
To take part in this research then please email NatCen directly at the study email address: NDfans@natcen.ac.uk.
If you would like some more information about the study then please email our Disabled Liaison Officer, John Bird, on dlo@rotherhamunited.net