This week is World Autism Awareness week and we were delighted to hear that Sunderland have become one of the first clubs in world football to open a second Sensory Viewing Room within their stadium.
The new facility, located in a converted executive box in the West Stand, will complement the existing Nathan Shippey Sensory Room at the Stadium of Light, which opened in August 2015 and was the first within sporting stadia. You can read more about the new sensory room here.
The concept came from Nathan’s parents Peter and Kate Shippey who, through the Shippey Campaign, have led the introduction of Sensory Rooms at several clubs throughout the UK. You can read a blog about their campaign here and visit their website here.
Level Playing Field are pleased to support World Autism Awareness Week. Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. LPF encourages clubs and venues to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. This includes making sure staff are appropriately trained and that supporters can enjoy the match in a comfortable and safe environment.
Any supporter wishing to access either of the sensory rooms for a fixture at Sunderland should contact the Disability Liaison Officer on 0191 551 5122 or via email at chris.waters@safc.com once the fixture is on general sale, which is usually 4 – 6 weeks before the match.
29.3.2018