Liverpool - Recreation and entertainment are essential needs for everyone, including people with disabilities. Many of them also enjoy sports or support a sports team like Liverpool FC. Recognizing this, Liverpool FC management continues to improve services for their loyal disabled supporters. According to the official Liverpool FC website, the Premier League club announced that services for disabled supporters would be enhanced on match days.
These additional facilities for people with disabilities were developed in collaboration with the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee and the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association. The support includes 11 additional wheelchair spaces and accessible toilet facilities for the 2014-2015 season. These facilities were also added at the Anfield Road End for away fans using wheelchairs.
Furthermore, the club committed to providing discounted tickets for disabled fans after consulting with the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee. Jeanette Dodd, Vice-Chair of the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee and a representative for disabled supporters, stated that the supporters' committee is a crucial foundation for ensuring equal standards across the fanbase.
The committee channels fans' voices and maintains direct contact with the club to discuss important provisions for those who need them.
"I am very pleased with the developments made by the club for fans with disabilities, and I am satisfied that these facility enhancements have truly been implemented," said Jeanette. Other major stadiums in England also accommodate the needs of disabled supporters. For instance, Old Traford, home of Manchester United, has policies for visually impaired supporters.
According to a conversation with Joni Yulianto, an Indonesian visually impaired student who studied in Leeds, disabled individuals can enjoy live matches from the sidelines. He explained that visually impaired spectators are allocated seats closest to the pitch, protected by a metal net to prevent stray balls. Additionally, headsets are provided with a verbal commentary describing the match in real-time.
Policies like those implemented in England are something Indonesia should emulate. However, before all that can happen, football supporters in general need to cultivate a sense of discipline to ensure matches run safely and comfortably. Hopefully, one day, people with disabilities can directly experience the match atmosphere from the sidelines, not just be limited to watching on screen.
source: LiverpoolFC.com