Autism Friendly Football Step by Step Guide

Step by Step Guide

autism Friendly

football

Supporting football clubs of all sizes to make small changes that will make a big difference to anyone affected by autism.

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Overview We’ve teamed up with former Premier League Football Manager and charity Ambassador Harry Redknapp to launch the Autism Friendly Football campaign.

Our aim is to support football clubs of all sizes to make small changes that will make a big difference to anyone affected by autism.

We’ve kick started the campaign with AFC Bournemouth and now it’s your chance to get involved!

Appendix 1

Watch our Campaign video

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

What is autism?

Autism

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that can affect the way that someone thinks, communicates and manages their senses.

1 in 100 people have autism so it is likely that you will have many supporters who are either personally affected or have a friend or family member with autism.

Challenges your fans may face For someone with autism and their family, going to watch their favourite football team can be overwhelming and stressful. The noise, sights and smell of the crowd, as well as the uncertainty of what to expect, can cause anxiety.

Anxiety can make following instructions and reading situations harder. If people don’t understand what a person with autism is experiencing, this can increase stress and anxiety levels further.

Watching football can be a brilliant experience, sharing the highs and lows with loved ones and fellow supporters. People with autism should be given every opportunity to join in like everyone else.

There are many easy ways that you can ensure that your club is open to all of your fans.

Becoming More Autism Friendly – Your step by step guide Simply follow this step by step guide to becoming more autism friendly, bearing in mind what would work for your club. We would encourage you to ask your supporters for their suggestions of what would make the experience easier for them too.

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 1 – Train your staff

Step 1

Pick a time and a date and assemble everyone from your stewards to your front of house staff and watch this autism awareness training video: Appendix 2

Watch our Training video

Then circulate Appendix 3 - “How to Support Fans with Autism” guidance note to staff and pin it up in any staff communal areas.

Appendix 3

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 2

Step 2 – Create a photograph or video journey Take a series of photographs or a short video of what your supporters can expect to happen on a match day.

Break this down into small steps in chronological order, for example:

1. This is the car park 2. This is the entrance 3. Find your seat 4. These are the toilets 5. The stewards are identifiable This can then be shared on your website and via your social media channels.

Knowing in advance what to expect can reduce anxiety for someone with autism significantly.

1.

2.

4.

5.

3.

Enjoy the match Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 3

Step 3 – Designate a Quiet/Sensory Room Do you have a room that can be designated as a quiet space?

This would be somewhere that a supporter could go that is away from the noise and the crowd if they are feeling overwhelmed and need some time out on match day.

Simply knowing that there is an area available that could be used if needed can be enough to encourage a supporter with autism or their family to come to a match.

There are no specific requirements for a quiet room – just a space that is quiet, away from the noise of the crowd and perhaps with a view of the pitch through a window or on a television. You could also look to have some sensory aids available in the room.

Quiet Room Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 4 – Entering the ground

Step 4

Is there an entrance that supporters could use to enter the ground early and avoid queuing?

Arriving early so that the noise and atmosphere can build gradually can reduce overstimulation and anxiety for someone with autism.

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 5

Step 5 – Body and Bag Search Guide

Put together a simple guide on the process of body and bag searches and have it readily available to your fans.

It is important to explain why you do the searches and, if you don’t search everyone, to explain why.

The format of the guide should be Easy Read, which means using a small amount of clear, concise text and various images.

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 6 – Sensory Bag

Step 6

A sensory bag is a practical way to support a person with autism by providing a range of items that can reduce feelings of anxiety.

There is not one item or combination of items that will meet everyones needs but a small selection can help someone to feel calmer and less stressed.

Consider having a selection of items available for example:

Tactile items can help deal with stress, aid concentration and encourage

engagement. Items that can be manipulated or squeezed can help a person focus.

Examples: Stress ball, tangle toys, therapy putty

Visual objects can help a person drown out unwanted visual stimuli or cope with bright lights. Visual objects offer focus and can help reduce information overload.

Examples: Glitter wands, baseball cap

Auditory objects can help those people who find stadiums too loud. Also making fans aware that there is chanting, cheering and singing at games will help.

Examples: Ear plugs, ear defenders, social stories about what to expect Body sense helps us know where our body is, how much force and speed to use.

When people move against resistence it can help to calm.

Examples: The Easy Wrap

Oral objects helps people to use their mouths to remain calm. Calming oral actions include sucking and blowing.

Examples: Sports bottles, bubble bottles

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 7

Step 7 – Match Day Programme Awareness Insert Help to spread awareness and understanding of autism amongst your fans by including Appendix 4 - Did You Know insert in your match day programme.

Appendix 4

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 8 - Shout about it!

Step 8

Tell your supporters and the wider community what you are doing. You could use the following to spread the word: • Press Release Simply insert your club’s name and details of the steps you are taking into our templateSee appendix 5. Add a photograph and share it on your website and on social media. You can also send it to your local media.

• Facebook Post Share this post on your Facebook page to let your followers know what you are doing.

Keep your supporters up to date with regular posts.

We are proud to support the @Autism Wessex Autism Friendly Football Campaign which is backed by @ Harry Redknapp. [Your Club] wants football to be accessible to everyone and have [state the changes you have made] #autismfriendlyfootball Add photos if you can!

• Tweet Share this post on Twitter to let your followers know what you are doing. Keep your supporters up to date with regular posts.

We’re proud to support the @autismwessex #AutismFriendlyFootball Campaign which is backed by @ Redknapp. [Your Club] wants football to be accessible to everyone and have [state the changes you have made] Add photos if you can!

• Match Day Programme Tell your supporters what steps you have been taking to become more autism friendly.

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Step 9 – Keep us updated

Step 9

Please tell us what steps you plan to take by sending us an email to enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk We want to make lots of noise around the campaign and would love to help to spread the word about the steps you are taking via our: •

Website: www.autismwessex.org.uk/football

•

Facebook: www.facebook.com/autismwessex

• Twitter: @autismwessex

www.twitter.com/autismwessex Please feel free to share our content as well as adding your own.

This year is our 50th Birthday year and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to put autism in the spotlight!

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Thank You!

“I feel strongly that football should be open to be everyone. It is so important that we remove any barriers that might stop someone from coming along to a match and cheering on their team. That’s why I’m backing this campaign and would urge all clubs to get behind it!”

Harry Redknapp, former Premier League Football Manager and Autism Wessex Ambassador.

Need further support?

For more information and for more details of the dedicated autism training courses we offer please email us at enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Appendix 1

https://youtu.be/VUS35pLYCtI

Appendix 2

https://youtu.be/sWOUFklL54I

Appendix

Autism Wessex | 01202 483360 | enquiries@autismwessex.org.uk | Registered Charity 1000792

Appendix 3 - www.autismwessex.org.uk/footballresources

Appendix 4 - www.autismwessex.org.uk/footballresources

Appendix 4 - www.autismwessex.org.uk/footballresources

Appendix 5 - www.autismwessex.org.uk/footballresources

Template Press Release

[Club name] back Autism Friendly Football Campaign [Club name] is backing a charity’s campaign for football clubs to become more autism friendly. As part of the clubs commitment to its fans, [Club name] has [short summary of steps you have taken/are taking].

The Autism Friendly Football campaign, launched by charity Autism Wessex and former Premier League Football Manager Harry Redknapp, supports football clubs of all sizes to make small changes that will make a big difference to anyone affected by autism.

Karen Wilmshurst, Advocacy Services Manager at Autism Wessex, said; “Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that can affect the way that someone thinks, communicates and manages their senses. For someone with autism and their family, going to watch their favourite football team play can be overwhelming and stressful but there are easy steps that any club can take. Our free Toolkit contains an easy step by step guide for clubs to become autism friendly. Thank you to [club name] and everyone that has got behind the campaign so far.”

[Name] of [Club name] said; “We want to ensure that football is open to all of our fans and are proud to be supporting the campaign. [Insert further comment about the steps you are taking].”

For further information about the Autism Friendly Football campaign and to get involved please visit www.autismwessex.org.uk/football.