BLACKBURN Rovers were delighted to show their support to the 2008 Level Playing Field Campaign at Sunday's game against Bolton Wanderers.
The scheme, which is organised by the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS), aims to raise awareness of disability and promote an equality of matchday experience for everyone.
NADS works with football clubs and their disabled supporters clubs to represent the views, issues and concerns of disabled football supporters to football and government authorities and provides independent advice on disability issues as they affect the football community.
Rovers saw the game against Bolton as an opportunity to raise awareness of disability.
Some of the Team Escorts, who walked out with the players onto the pitch, included children with disabilities, although they are not all apparent and this reminds us all that there are wide-ranging disabilities and at Rovers we try to understand and meet everyone's needs.
Our aim, in line with NADS, is access and inclusion for all and we have a policy of continuous improvement.
Over the next 12 months, we are making a commitment to better understand the experience of being a blind or partially-sighted supporter coming to a football match at Ewood Park and making improvements where we can.
We are also encouraging and enabling some more of our staff to learn British Sign Language and join colleagues who already have that skill to communicate better with supporters who have hearing impairments.
Recently, the club came top of the Premier League for exceeding the number of places accessible to wheelchairs and we are proud to offer that facility, plus many others.
Time after time, we learn how following football has had such a positive affect on the life of a disabled person, offering a sense of belonging, pride, passion and belief.
For people who have become severely disabled, coming to a football match can often be a watershed in trying to get back some part of their life they thought might have gone forever.
We recognise this at Blackburn Rovers and that is why we are committed to making it a good experience for everyone who comes to Ewood Park, whether it is to watch a match, have a drink and a meal in Blues Bar or attend a function in one of our lounges.
We have a strong link with our Disabled Supporters Club (BRDSC), which celebrated its 15th Anniversary in 2007, and members each received a specially designed scarf to commemorate the occasion. Membership is currently at its highest since it began.
