Premier League Accessible Stadia Campaign

"Through mindfulness & self-reflection, I realized I choose how to define my disability.

By seeing it as a blessing instead of a curse, I reframed it as a source of strength, purpose, and meaning in my life."

Kush Kanodia

The Vision:

To increase the number of wheelchair-accessible spaces in Premier League stadiums to accurately reflect the needs of disabled fans.

The Challenge:

Proposal to Provide Proportional Representation for Disabled Wheelchair Users at Premier Football Clubs.

A 2014 BBC investigation found that 17 of England's top-flight clubs failed to provide enough wheelchair spaces.

Leading the Change:

Dr. Kush Kanodia joined national charity Level Playing Field in 2012 that was leading on this campaign. He convinced Chelsea football club to meet the accessible stadia guidance which led to the Premier league agreeing to meet the guidance in 2017.

A Successful Outcome:

All Premier League clubs have agreed to improve access for disabled supporters by August 2017.

This significant step towards greater inclusivity sets a commendable standard for other sports organisations to follow.

It reaffirms the ongoing commitment to creating environments that are accessible to all.

The Partners:

Dr. Kanodia collaborated with:

  • Level Playing Field

  • Centre for Accessible Football in Europe

  • Chelsea Football Club FC

  • Minister for disabled people Justin Tomlinson MP

  • Lord Holmes, a member of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission

Continuing the Fight:

The Premier League has faced criticism for failing to fulfill its promise of ensuring match access for wheelchair-using fans, with a decrease in the number of clubs providing suitable wheelchair user spaces over the past five years as reported by charity Level Playing Field.

Despite a 2015 pledge for all clubs to meet a nationally recognised standard for accessibility, more than a third of top-flight clubs, seven in total, do not currently meet the benchmark set by the Accessible Stadia Guide, highlighting ongoing challenges in creating inclusive sporting environments for disabled spectators.