Disability Inclusion and Etiquette Training

Disability Inclusion and Etiquette Training Friday 16 June 2017 / Schalke04 CAFE Joanna Deagle

Introducing CAFE • Established in 2009 – UEFA awarded Monaco Prize • UEFA CSR associate partner • Working towards a more inclusive and accessible game for all using the unique power of football • Promoting the employment of disabled people within football • UEFA FFP and CL article 35bis: Disability Access Officer

Today’s topics • An introduction to disability • Accessible stadia • Empowering disabled people • Language and approach • Q & A – is it ok to?

Why access and inclusion matters • Joyce Cook, founder of CAFE and FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer

Introducing disability – true or false? • Most disabled people are wheelchair users • There are more disabled people living today than ever before • Colour blindness can affect both males and females • All blind people can read Braille • People from poorer backgrounds are more likely to become disabled • Disabled people may have more than one ‘disability’ • Not all disabled people will require a companion or carer • There is no difference between guide and assistance dogs

What is a ‘disabled person’? • Disability occurs when a person is excluded from something that other people in society take for granted

Accessible stadia • Disability doesn’t discriminate • >40% of any population will require good access at any given time • Without good access, disabled people are excluded from social events such as football. • More than 50% of disabled people have never attended a public or sporting event

Accessible stadia – poor or good practice? • Our stadium has four tribunes, and one of them is a protected landmark, which means we don’t need to make it accessible. Our media and hospitality suites are in this tribune • All of our wheelchair user spaces are at pitchside along the front of one tribune • We would allow a spectator to bring both a companion and an assistance dog to the stadium with them • We provide audio-descriptive commentary, and all fans requiring the service sit together in the same block • We ask all disabled spectators to provide proof of disability when purchasing tickets • Emergency announcements are made with a clear audio message • All wheelchair users receive free match tickets

Accessible stadia • Accessible and inclusive information • Accessible and inclusive ticketing policies • Accessible parking and drop-off points • Accessible signage • Trained staff, stewards and volunteers • Accessible seating options • Low-level counters at concessions • Accessible unisex toilets • Emergency evacuation procedures • Accessible services for differently disabled people • Appointment of a Disability Access Officer

Accessible stadia – unobstructed sightlines • UEFA Champions League 2017: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Empowering disabled people • Accessible recruitment procedures and policies • Accessible venues (offices and meeting rooms) • Engagement with disabled fans • Collaboration with disabled fans group • Partnerships with local disability organisations

Disability etiquette • The assumptions made by people can be a major barrier in communication • People are diverse, and everybody deserves respect and equality • Don’t assume that someone does or doesn’t want help, and don’t assume that all disabled people are the same and have the same requirements • The best judge of what is, or is not, appropriate for the individual is him or herself

Words and language • Negative or derogatory words and expressions • Appropriate terminology • Sport can help to remove negative stereotypes and images of disabled people

Exercise: communicating directly • Should you offer a disabled person help? If so, how do you offer to help them? • If a disabled person declines an offer to help and appears to be struggling, what should you do? • Can you play with and stroke a guide or assistance dog? • When speaking with a wheelchair user, is it acceptable to refer to a distance as being ‘a short walk away’? • Is it acceptable to ask about someone’s disability? • What is the best position for you to be in when talking to a wheelchair user? • If you are struggling to understand a learning disabled person, is it best to pretend that you do? • If you see somebody using an accessible toilet who does not appear to be disabled, what should you do?

In conclusion • Disabled people are people first and foremost, and should be treated with dignity and respect • Access should be considered across a venue, club, fans group and policies • Importance of empowering disabled people • Disability etiquette and terminology

Questions – is it ok to…?

Thank you! • info@cafefootball.eu • +44 (0)20 8621 2405 • Facebook & Twitter @cafefootball • Centre for Access to Football in Europe • 1 Olympic Way • Wembley, London • HA9 0NP • United Kingdom

Disability Inclusion and Etiquette Training