Disabled Policy – Disabled/Mobility Impaired Spectators

Dover Football Club fully supports the principle of equal opportunities and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability. The Club operates a specific ticketing policy for disabled supporters and will ensure that the scheme does not discriminate between disabled people with differing impairments.

Definition of Disability

As a fundamental principle the Equality Act 2010 states that disabled people should not be treated ‘less favourably’, without justification and ‘reasonable adjustments should be made to make goods, facilities and services accessible’. For the purposes of this policy only, the definition of a disabled supporter is:-‘Any person who, has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and because of their disability or impairment, is unable to use ordinary stand seating without contravening Health & Safety Regulations, Guidelines or Policy or where the Club has provided a ‘reasonable adjustment’ to enable that supporter to attend the venue.

Any such person will be considered for use of the ‘designated areas’ of the stadium in line with the procedures set out in this policy’. A ‘reasonable adjustment’ in the context should include the need to bring a ‘personal assistant’ for either personal care or safety reasons. A ‘designated area’ is any area (including specific seats around the stadium) that the Club shall, in its sole discretion determine as being available for the disabled ticket. Dover Athletic Football Club reserves the right to request ‘proof of a disability’ before issuing any concession.

Such proof shall include: Receipt of the middle or higher rate of the Disability Living Allowance (mobility or car component), receipt of either the Severe Disablement Allowance or Attendance Allowance. A personal letter from your GP. Receipt of an Orange/Blue badge will not be considered sufficient proof of disability.

Facilities for supporters using wheelchairs

The Club has the following position specifically for wheelchair supporters and, if required, a carer: Family stand

In addition our staff and stewards will always be available to assist where possible with providing any disabled supporter with a viewing point from the ground that they require.

It is the Club policy that one helper with any disabled person using a wheelchair receives their admission to the ground free of charge. The wheelchair-bound fan is required to pay the normal admission price for that particular game.

In conjunction with the proof of disability (as previously mentioned) this concession will only be available to those people who meet the eligibility criteria described below:

Wheelchair using applicants must be largely confined to a wheelchair, or not capable of walking a distance further than that required to reasonably and safely access any other part of the stadium. Wheelchair using applicants should ideally, also be accompanied by a person who is capable of supporting the disabled person’s needs in the event of an emergency. For this reason the Club strongly recommends that a carer is sixteen years of age, and fit and able to carry out the duties required.