The National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) was established in 1998 and is the only national registered charity representing all disabled football supporters.

Its 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.

Time and again NADS receive testimonies of how following football has had such a positive effect on the life of a disabled person, offering a sense of belonging, pride, passion and belief. Strides have been made over recent years to improve facilities for disabled fans that most of us take for granted. Sometimes, however, there is still a clear deficit between the match-day and overall supporter experiences of disabled and able-bodied fans.

As part of the drive towards equality NADS initiates a yearly disability awareness campaign, offering a unique platform for every football club to highlight the good work already undertaken in the provision of disabled supporter facilities and services. This year, the Level Playing Field campaign is intended to focus on disabled supporter facilities and in particular, those for people with sensory impairments. In highlighting these, NADS hopes to raise awareness of the facilities made available to disabled supporters on match days and the other ways in which services and activities can be accessed by the broader disabled community. This year's campaign runs from February 23rd for two weeks.

NADS would urge all supporters and stakeholders in football, able bodied and disabled, to support them in their aims and objectives by becoming a member of NADS. Individual membership is only £5.00 per year and all fees help in the day to day running of NADS. You can also make a donation to the charity by sending a cheque made payable to NADS or by donating via the website.

For more information and to join go to www.nads.org.uk or contact us at PO Box 2909, Reading RG1 9LD, or by email info@nads.org.uk or by calling our helpline 0845 230 6237.