How well do we compare to Huddersfield or Leeds United re. access? It would appear we have not completed the survey, reading between the lines.
Ours always have been really good. My dad, who is blind, raised money to replace the perspex in the old stand and buy new head phones for the commentary. (which used to have us penned in when the away supporters got a bit lary) The new one is one of the best in the country!
Begs the question that if they're so good, how come we couldn't be arsed to fill the survey in. We seem to make a habit of not completing surveys.
According to club website there are 57 wheelchair bays for home fans in the corner stand and 18 in the North for away fans.
that's half the story. for away supporters are they accessible from the car park - good view - sheltered? what are the toilet facilities like?
https://tools-barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/76/c9/0,,10309~182646,00.pdf As much as I know. Only ever taken the missus in her wheelchair to Fortuna Dusseldorf and the facilities there were superb.
They are accessible, sheltered best views in the away end. Standard disabled toilets. We have some of the best disabled facilities in england
If we didn't complete the survey, what an opportunity missed for some good publicity. I saw the item on the local news and we weren't mentioned at all. I wondered at the time why.
it is easy for the able bodied to assume everything is fine for people with disabilities. There may be problems with a lack of suitable parking places (if needed) or a problem with actually getting to the designated areas in the stadium.
It's in this link that Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday didn't respond to the survey. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35742963
Reading the story it all seems to be based on the actual number of places allocated which is 162. the % rating has then be based on how many seats there actually are, so if we've only 75 available we'd get a 46% rating. Second part of the story deals with the problems of getting in and out etc.
Here's what our disabled facilities are according to the Football League http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/league-1-disabled-facilities-guide549-2634874.pdf
BFC has not according to the above document done any disability awareness courses for their staff. The two named BFC people in the document are not disabled. There is often the assumption by the able-bodied that they know what is best for disabled people. Often the problem for disabled people is not the facilities within the ground but rather the problems actually getting to the entrance. Where would wheelchair-user away fan park his/her car if they're a driver - how easy is it to get to the stadium entrance from there? How safe is it for a disabled home or away fan? Some disabled people are wary of, or intimidated by large crowds - were we wheelchair users how many of us would feel comfortable about getting to or from the ground by ourselves?
ST - you're missing the point of my post - there is more to meeting the needs of disabled supporters than just providing a space in a stadium. Try to see things from the perspective of someone with a disability.