The
National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) was established
in 1998 and is the only national registered charity representing
all disabled football supporters. Their objective is to promote
an inclusive agenda and ensure a parity of supporter experiences
for all fans. NADS represents the views, issues and concerns of
disabled football supporters to football and governmental authorities
and provides independent advice on disability issues as they affect
the football community. NADS also heads up the disabled branch
of 'Englandfans'.
NADS
is an umbrella organization recognised as the representative and
co-ordinating body of all disabled football supporters and their
carers/advocates. An estimate that 30,000 disabled fans regularly
attend football matches in England and the success of the disabled
branch of 'Englandfans' shows that this passion naturally extends
to the national team.
Strides
have been made over recent years to improve facilities for disabled
fans that most of us take for granted – as simple as a decent
view, under cover and with your own fans, accessible toilets,
bars, club shops, museums and accessible media (club TV and literature)
and web sites. In most cases however there is still a clear deficit
between the match-day and overall supporter experiences of disabled
and able-bodied fans. NADS urges all supporters and stakeholders
in football, able bodied and disabled, to support them in their
aims and objectives by becoming a member of NADS.