Ipswich Town Football Club are backing the NADS led 'Level Playing Field' initiative by having a week of events leading up to the Sheffield United game on March 4.

NADS (The National Association of Disabled Supporters) is the only recognised national representative body for disabled football fans in England and Wales. They represent over 30,000 disabled supporters, their carers and advocates and Town have been supporters since its inception.

NADS is the only recognised national representative body for disabled football fans in England and Wales. They represent over 30,000 disabled supporters, their carers and advocates.

"The overall aim of the week includes highlighting the Club's wide range of facilities and services that are provided for our disabled supporters as well as providing opportunities to participate in playing football through our Ability Counts programme," says Warner Duff, Disability Liaison Officer at Ipswich Town.

"The Club is doing a wonderful job of promoting disability awareness through listening and working with the fans.

"Great progress has been made at the Club over the past few years by simply giving fans a voice, making the match day experience the same for everyone.

"Time and again we receive testimonials on how following football has had a positive effect on the lives of disabled fans, offering a sense of belonging, pride, passion and belief.

"At Ipswich Town were are very proud of the facilities we have for disabled supporters at Portman Road, facilities we consider to be among the best in the country.

"We have eight different areas throughout the stadium for our disabled supporters, four in upper areas and four in lower areas, giving supporters a choice of viewing.We are also looking at improving facilities for away disabled supporters, recognizing that it is an area that needs improving on.

"By continuing to work with our fans as well as the National Association of Disabled Supporters, we hope to combat any issues relating to disabled supporters as well as promoting the excellent community initiatives run by our Club."

The main emphasis of the 'Level Playing Field' scheme at Portman Road over the next week spotlights sensory impairments, with the Club successfully launching the Soccer Sight scheme at the Stoke game in January.

Thousands of supporters with impaired vision attend football matches up and down the country and Soccer Sight, a new initiative from the Royal National Institute of the Blind, provides trained voluntary commentators and radio headsets that allow blind fans to sit anywhere within the stadium to receive the commentary.

"We are pleased to report that Soccer Sight is going really well and has enhanced the experience of coming to Portman Road for our existing visually impaired supporters as well as new ones," adds Warner.

Town coach Steve Foley and first-team players Jon Walters, David Wright and Jason De Vos kicked off the week of activities by joining the players from the Ipswich Town Disabled Football Club at a training session at Portman Road on Tuesday, February 26.

Details of facilities for disabled supporters at all grounds as well as latest news, downloads and how to join NADS can be found at www.nads.org.uk.

If you would like further information then please call Warner Duff, Disability Liaison Officer at ITFC on 01473 400556 or email warner.duff@itfc.co.uk